7 Guidelines For What To Do The Day After An Accident

  • Start Treating With A Chiropractor Or Physical Therapist

The best thing to do after an accident where you have suffered an injury, is to begin treating with a doctor who specializes in accident injuries such as whiplash. If you already have a doctor in mind, treat with them. If you do not, we would be happy to recommend a highly competent doctor to treat your injuries.

  • Continue Treating With Your Doctor

Once you have seen your doctor, it is very important that you continue to treat with that doctor as they have recommended. Treating early and often is the best way for you to quickly and effectively recovery from your injuries.

  • Keep Track Of Missed Work And/Or Pay

If you have missed work because of the accident, keep track of it. If you are paid hourly and lost hours/money because of the accident, we need to know that because you can recover that lost money from the person who hit you. If you took vacation days for you to treat with your doctor, those count also.

  • Get Your Vehicle Damage Assessed

If you had a vehicle that was damaged in the accident, it needs to be assessed. If the assessment says the vehicle is a total loss (“totaled”) then you will need to produce your vehicle’s title to the insurance company so they can take possession of the vehicle. DO NOT do this without fist consulting with your attorney. If your vehicle was not considered a total loss, get the vehicle fixed and keep the bill from your mechanic. The insurance company will cover the cost to fix the vehicle. If you have to rent a car during this time, keep those bills as well. The insurance company will most likely refund you for rental car fees and bills.

  • Keep A List Of All Medical Issues And Problems

This list would be preferably written but can be mental as well. The idea is that you keep track of how the issues you experience change. Most injury affects change in the days, weeks, and months after the accident. Many times, they are very painful at the beginning, but with proper treatment and time, they subside in the initial 6 months after the accident. Keeping track of how the injury progresses is especially important to your case. Things like loss of sleep, inability to work in the yard, or sidelining yourself during group activities need to remembered and discussed.

  • Take Pictures And Video Of Injuries

It is very important to take pictures and/or video of the injuries you or your loved one is experiencing. Things to take pictures of:

  • Bruising and bleeding;
  • Cuts or lacerations;
  • Surgery sites and stiches;
  • Lumps and bumps; or
  • Any deformity caused by the accident.

This is a non-comprehensive list. If you see something that looks like it was the result of the accident; take photos or video. Maybe your loved one struggles to stand up now, video it. Maybe they are pausing to sit down and a look of pain comes across their face; snap a photo. Also, injuries heal and get better. Take multiple pictures of the bruising as it heals to show the progression. Juries and insurance companies love pictures and video.

While there are other things to do, these 7 Guidelines will really help you to recover as fast as possible while also moving your case forward. If you have any questions about these Guidelines or your accident, please feel free to call Waggener Law at 727-685-8000.