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Personal Injury
: What to Expect
You have been injured
in a car accident:
- Be SURE to get insurance information of other
drivers as well as contact information!
- Call the police! (no
matter what, even if the other driver asks you not
to)
- Obtain contact
information of any witnesses.
- If in doubt, seek
immediate medical treatment.
- Contact your insurance
company but,
- Don’t sign anything!
Consult an attorney before giving a recorded
statement or signing a release for an insurance
company.
Be sure to
get all the information you can:
- Investigation/Accident
Reports which can be ordered from the Washington
State Patrol, the local Police Department or the
company involved in the accident.
- Get a copy of your insurance policy from the
time of the accident
- Obtain and keep copies of medical charts, notes
and billings
- Keep copies of all other health care records
such as physical therapist, massage, chiropractic or
other providers' charts, notes and billings
- Take photographs of the vehicle and the scene
- Have your employer document your lost wages
- A list of witnesses who know anything about the
accident or how the injury affected you. It is
important to get full legal names, street addresses
and telephone numbers of all potential witnesses in
your case, along with a short written summary about
what the individual may be able to testify to.
Stay on
top of your medical needs:
- Be sure to treat as long
and your doctors feel is appropriate
- Seek out the care that you require
- When your medical conditions stabilize your
attorney will begin settlement negotiations
Keep your
attorney informed and be patient:
- These cases take time and
time is needed to be certain that your medical
requirements have been met
- It takes time to work with opposing parties and
reach a settlement that fulfills your needs
- The most important things that you can do while
your case is pending: Your medical needs are number
one priority; keep your attorney appraised of
treatment status keep copies of all of your records
and be sure to share copies with your attorney.
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