What Should I Do Immediately After Suffering a Personal Injury?
Hurt in an accident in Franklin County or elsewhere in Pennsylvania? You have the right to seek compensation through a personal injury claim. A proactive approach is a must. Knowing what to do after being involved in a bad accident can make a big difference. A Franklin County personal injury lawyer can guide you through the steps to take immediately after suffering a personal injury in Pennsylvania.
Five Key Things to Do Immediately After a Serious Accident in Franklin County, PA
Step #1: Report the Accident
A serious accident should always be reported right away. What exactly that entails will depend on the specific situation. You need to make a good-faith effort to report the accident to the appropriate authority based on where and how it occurred. For example, you should call the state or local police for motor vehicle crashes. Alternatively, you should notify a property owner or business manager of a slip and fall accident. The failure to report an accident can raise questions about credibility. You do not want to deal with that during your personal injury claim.
Step #2: Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Your health comes first. You should seek immediate medical care after an accident in Franklin County. All injuries should be evaluated by a qualified doctor. It is important to see a reliable medical provider as soon as possible, even if your initial symptoms seem minor. Many injuries worsen over time. Not only does that put you in a worse position for your physical recovery, but any delayed treatment gives insurers an excuse to try to fight your claim.
Step #3: Document the Scene
As Pennsylvania operates under a fault-based standard for personal injury claims, it is crucial that you proactively document your accident/incident. You should try to do what you can to preserve evidence before it disappears. To start, you should take photographs of the scene, hazards, vehicles, and visible injuries. You should also try to capture lighting, weather, signage, and surrounding conditions. Write down what happened while the details are fresh. Finally, if there are witnesses, collect names and contact information.
Step #4: Avoid Giving a Statement to an Insurance Adjuster
Insurance companies are not on your side. Following a serious accident in Pennsylvania, you should be very cautious when dealing with an insurance adjuster. You may need to notify an insurance company that an accident happened. However, you have the right to take time to recover and gather your thoughts before giving any recorded statement.
Step #5: Seek Professional Legal Representation
Personal injury claims are complicated. The right attorney can make the difference in your case. You do not have to navigate the immediate aftermath of a crash (or the rest of the claims process) alone. A top Franklin County personal injury lawyer can handle insurer communication, preserve evidence, and assess liability before positions harden.
Call Our Franklin County Personal Injury Attorney Today
At DiLoreto, Cosentino & Bolinger P.C., our Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer is ready to take proactive steps to help you get justice and maximum compensation. Contact us now for a free, no-strings-attached case review. From our Franklin County office, we handle personal injury claims all across the region, including in Chambersburg, Waynesboro, Greencastle, Fayetteville, Guilford, Wayne Heights, State Line, and Mont Alto.