An accident can quickly turn your life around, and generally not in good ways. Pain, suffering, medical expenses, and more are all hard to deal with. Fortunately, a bit of preparation can make the process easier to handle.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the ways you can be prepared for various types of accidents.
Car Accidents
Among the most common personal injuries are those arising from automobile accidents. In a car crash, there will be certain information you’ll need to collect from the other driver and nearby witnesses. However, getting that information may not be easy to do at the time of the accident.
Car crashes can be nerve-wracking experiences, and you may not remember to do everything you need to. In addition, the other driver may not stick around, making it difficult to get their information.
One item to keep with you to help with this is a cheat sheet. Just write out what information you need on a note card and keep it in your glove compartment. You’ll also want to keep your phone or a disposable camera at hand as well. In the event of an accident, pictures of the vehicles, the other driver, and their license plate can help build a personal injury case.
Workplace Accidents
Another site where accidents may occur is the workplace. Being aware of the potential hazards and taking adequate safety measures is key to preventing these types of accidents, but it can also be useful in the event of a workplace injury. If you follow all safety protocols, your employer is less likely to try to deny you benefits.
While Illinois’s workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, it’s still important to be able to back up your claim if it should happen to be denied. Knowing who should be notified of your injury is vital—any delays could compromise your claim.
In addition, make sure you know what your options are and who you’ll turn to for medical help. Part of this means knowing whether your employer has a preferred provider network. If they do, your choices of doctors will be a bit more limited, and getting referrals from your chosen provider could be more important.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Yet another common type of injury is a slip-and-fall accident. This type of accident often occurs in stores or restaurants where spills or other hazards may be present.
Just like with vehicle accidents, you will want to make sure your phone is on hand to take pictures. The types of hazards that lead to slip and fall injuries are often cleaned up quickly. Having a notepad doesn’t hurt either since you can collect further evidence of what happened. The amount of time during which a hazard remained, the presence/absence of warning signs, and other factors could make or break your case.
Legal Backup
In all these cases, there’s one item you’ll need to have prepared regardless of the type of accident—legal representation. Choosing an attorney now will save you the stress of doing so later when you’re dealing with an injury. If you are in need of a personal injury lawyer, contact Hart David Carson LLP today.