If you get into a car accident, there are a few things you should do immediately afterwards. That list includes going to the doctor to check out any injuries you may have sustained. But sometimes you feel fine after an accident and decide to skip the doctor’s office. So what do you do if you start to feel those injuries a day or two later?After an accident, you might feel scared or confused. That’s totally normal. Here’s a quick checklist of things to do after your accident to keep yourself safe and to help you organize your thoughts for a later date:
- Get to a safe place (to the side of the road)
- Call the police
- Take detailed notes and photos of the scene and any injuries you have
- Exchange information with the other driver and obtain contact information from witnesses
- Don’t admit any fault or answer calls from the other driver’s insurance company
- Keep track of lost wages
- Hire a lawyer
- Go to a doctor
Even if you think you feel fine after an accident, you may experience lingering or long-term issues that you don’t feel until a day or two later. If you don’t go to the doctor the day of the accident, go the next day. Be sure to explain to the doctor what happened in the accident and that the accident took place the day before.
You also need to go to all recommended check-ups and get any tests done that your doctor recommends.
Sounds like it could be somewhat costly?
With a competent personal injury lawyer, you should be able to win back compensation for whatever injuries you sustained and medical bills you paid. That’s why it’s important to keep track of all bills and documentation in regards to the accident.A personal injury claim seeks compensation for a victim for the physical, mental, or emotional harm they suffered because of someone else. This harm may be due to an accident, lack of safety measures, workplace failings, or any number of issues. Hiring a personal injury lawyer to fight for you is the best way to ensure you’ll be compensated for anything you lost in your accident.
In Louisiana, you only have one year after the accident to file a personal injury claim for a car accident, even if injuries appear later on (as is sometimes the case with children). That’s why it’s so important to take yourself and any passengers from the accident to the doctor immediately afterwards.
Louisiana also has what is called the “direct action” law. This means that you have the ability to file your personal injury claim against the other driver’s insurance company directly, bypassing the other driver altogether. (For example, if the other driver in your accident died, or is bankrupt or uninsured.)Our legal team at Wright Gray is dedicated to helping you through this difficult time after an accident and working to help you receive compensation for the suffering you endure due to someone else’s negligence. Give us a call at 888-912-4944 to get started working towards your future today.