Nobody goes out the door expecting to get into a car accident — but it happens to someone every day.
According to statistics, there are about 6 million car accidents every year — and roughly 3 million people end up injured as a result. Around 2 million of those people will have permanent injuries. That’s why it’s important to know how to properly document your injuries if you end up in an accident. Good documentation can help you obtain fair compensation for injuries that can cause you missed work, a pile of medical bills and a lot of pain.
If you’re in a car accident, here’s a quick guide you can use to start documenting your injuries:
1. Grab plenty of pictures
Almost everyone has a camera on their phones these days. If you’re in an accident, make use of yours to take photos of the vehicles, debris left in the road and traffic conditions. Try to get multiple angles and shots. If you’re too hurt to take the photos yourself, hand your camera off to someone who can help. The photos may come in handy if a defense expert tries to say that the accident couldn’t possibly have caused your injuries.
2. Seek immediate medical treatment
Don’t wait to seek medical care — even if you only think you have bumps and bruises. You could be more seriously injured than you realize, and immediate treatment can help connect the dots between the accident and an injury that doesn’t manifest for several days.
3. Take some additional photos
Keep using that camera. As bruises or swelling develops on your injured body parts, get photographic evidence to show the extent of the damage. These can go a long way toward proving your pain and suffering.
4. Make sure your doctor knows you were in an accident
Your doctor’s notes can be important to your case — so make sure that your doctor makes the connection between the accident and your injuries. That way, there’s no question that your injuries were related and not from another source.
The sooner you contact an attorney after a car accident, the sooner you can get advice that pertains to your particular situation — and that’s important if you want to protect your right to fair compensation.