If you have been in an accident you think it is time to contact a personal injury attorney in Oakland, there are some items you should consider. Each state handles their individual lawsuits and civil issues. It is important to know your state’s laws around personal injury cases.
When you are injured in an accident, you should not immediately think you need to file a claim. You want to first assess the severity of the injuries and determine the real cause and make sure you are involving the right parties in a settlement case. You always want to make sure that you take pictures. You want to document and record everything you can about the accident. You want to take pictures of all damages that occur to your person and to any items, whether it be your house, your car, or any other property. As you get further away from the accident, your memory may get fuzzy or some details may be called into question. Document everything you can to ensure you can remember it all.
It may not seem important at the moment, but the details may become important later. You want to document the weather and the conditions of the area where the accident occurred. It is incredibly important that you are accurate in your recording of what occurred during the accident. Even if you are considering embellishing what happened during the accident, you should not. If you decide to move forward with a settlement case and it is revealed that you were not truthful in your information, your claim may be voided or throw out for misrepresentation.
You always want to seek medical attention after an accident, even if you think you are fine. Injuries tend to show themselves days after an accident and you do not want to be in a position where your condition has been made worse because of lack of treatment. You do not want injuries that may appear later to be called into question because you did not seek medical attention right away. When you have immediate attention, medical professionals are better able to determine the extent of your injuries and what treatment you may need going forward. When you are asked about your condition, be mindful of your answer. Anything that may indicate you are feeling good or better may appear misleading if you are later called to testify about your injuries. Refrain from discussing your injuries or how you are feeling until you know the severity of conditions you face. You also want to have a clear understanding of your treatment plan and the costs that may be associated with that plan.
When you are involved in a settlement case, you should only answer the questions that you are asked. Do not elaborate on additional details. In those moments it could be too much information that it somehow used against you. All you should do is answer the question that is asked with the facts. Do not add information or emotion into it.