If you've been in a motor vehicle crash, there are a few very important things to remember, no matter who you retain as your lawyer. Write them down or print this page! We assume that you will get proper medical attention, so that is not part of the subject. Of course, there are a lot of people who hurt their own claim either by running to the doctor unnecessarily, or by playing the "strong, silent type" even when there injuries should be obvious. The basic rule here is to get checked out at an emergency room or walk in clinic after your crash. If everything is ok, then you will have piece of mind. But if everything isn't ok, then you will at least have a baseline to work from.
After that, remember these important To-Do's:
To-Do Number 1. REMEMBER WHO YOUR FRIENDS ARE. The insurance companies are not working FOR you. They are working AGAINST you. This means that anything you say to anyone may wind up costing you. Don't make any kind of a statement (especially a recorded statement) until after you have consulted a lawyer.
To-Do Number 2. TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR BODY. The bruises from the steering wheel and the shoulder harness will be gone in a few weeks. So will the burns from the airbag. You will forget how bad they were, and the insurance company will try to minimize them in front of the jury. The ONLY way to have an accurate record is to get pictures now. Lots of pictures. From every angle. In sunlight and artificial light. Then get the film to your lawyer right away.
To-Do Number 3. TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR CAR. If it is a total loss, then it will be gone soon. If it's not totalled, it will be repaired. You should take a full roll of film, making sure that you have pictures from every angle, documenting how much damage was done by the impact. (After all, if the impact can bend steel, imagine what it can do to flesh and bone.)
To-Do Number 4. GET NAMES, ADDRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERS of everyone who saw the accident or was present in your car. Get them to write out a short narrative, including what everyone said after the accident. You will be amazed how quickly memories fade.
To-Do Number 5. WRITE OUT YOUR OWN NARRATIVE about the accident, but give it to NO ONE but your lawyer. Be sure to include all of your injuries. You will probably become progressively more sore for a period of three to five days after the crash. This is the normal way that your body will react to the traumatic insult of a motor vehicle crash.
To-Do Number 6. CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED INJURY LAWYER RIGHT AWAY. Over the years, it has not been unusual for insurance companies to offer settlement checks within a day after the accident. This is long before you will even know how badly you are hurt. It often takes up to two months before certain very serious injuries can even be diagnosed. If you have taken the insurance company's check for $2,000 on the second day after the accident, you can NEVER GO BACK to get more compensation, even if you find out that your injuries are permanent and disabling.
The first few days after your accident may determine the outcome of your claim. Speak to a lawyer as soon as you can.
