It is common to not know what to do immediately following a personal injury. However, by following the four steps below, you will work to ensure that you can receive the compensation you and your family will desperately need following a serious injury.

Seek Medical Help

The first thing you should do after suffering an injury from the negligent or reckless actions of another individual or business is to seek medical attention. You should see a doctor or other medical professional even if your injuries are not immediately obvious. The reason for this is that certain courts require a doctor to document injuries within a certain period of time or you may lose your ability to bring forth a claim.

Additionally, certain brain and soft tissue injuries may not be noticeable for days, weeks, or months after the injury. Thus, having a doctor thoroughly review your injury and properly diagnose you will allow you to receive the proper treatment for an injury you otherwise would not have been aware of.

Contact an Attorney

Once you have received the proper medical attention it is vital that you contact a knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorney immediately. After reviewing the cause of your injury and the full extent of your injuries, your attorney will be able to advise you on whether or not you have a valid personal injury claim.

Participate in the Investigation

Once you have enlisted the services of a personal injury attorney, they will immediately begin investigating your accident and consult a group of accident reconstruction specialists, doctors, and other professionals who will analyze the incident and your injuries to determine what happened, who was at fault, and how seriously you or your loved ones were injured. However, to help your attorney with this investigation, you must stay in contact with them and follow their instructions as well as participate in the investigation with law enforcement and other professionals. Though participating in the investigation may be a hassle, it is a vital part of getting the compensation you and your family need.

Discuss what Kind of Compensation you Should Receive

In most cases, if your injuries were caused by another individual or business, it is likely that you will be able to receive compensation. The most common examples of expenses that you can be compensated for include:

• Doctor visits
• Prescriptions
• Medical equipment
• At-home care
• Funeral expenses
• Loss of companionship
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages

Contact Our DC Law Office for More Information

Finally, for more on what to do after a personal injury, contact us at 202-803-5676. You can also directly schedule a consultation with one of our skilled attorneys. Additionally, for general information regarding personal injury law, check out our blog.