What to Do After a Personal Injury
Sustaining a Personal Injury in New Jersey
The moments following a personal injury can be overwhelming. You might be rushed to the nearest hospital while still trying to figure out what happened. From here, you will begin receiving medical bills and the police may want an official report of what happened.
The steps that you take following a personal injury may be more important than you think.
Seek Medical Care
Medical care should always be the first thing that you do immediately following an accident. Even if you feel fine, it’s possible that you have suffered injuries that you cannot yet see or feel. Medical concerns like internal bleeding or a traumatic head injury might not be apparent yet. A physician can complete a full medical evaluation and identify any areas of concern before they become a more serious problem.
Consult With a Personal Injury Lawyer
It’s not always easy to determine whether or not you have a personal injury case. If your injury was caused by another person’s negligence or intentional harm, it is possible that they will be liable for your damages. Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan, LLC offers a free consultation, which means there is no risk to you to discuss your legal options.
If the other party is found liable for your damages, you may be able to recover compensation for the following costs:
- Current medical costs
- Anticipated medical costs
- Property damage
- Rehabilitative costs
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
You also don’t want to wait too long to discuss your case with a personal injury lawyer. The state of New Jersey limits the time in which we can file a new personal injury case to just two years after the date of the accident. Waiting too long to file can make it difficult, if not impossible, to meet this deadline.
Collect Important Documents
Once you and your personal injury lawyer have determined that you have a case, it’s time to begin building said case. Your lawyer will inform you of which documents will be the most important to your case. Your legal team will use this information to determine:
- Duty of care
Breach of duty of care
Causation
Actual damages
Documents like medical records, police report, witness statements, and expert witness reports can help determine the other parties’ responsibility. Depending on the complexity of your case, your legal team might also attempt to recreate the scene of the accident to identify who was at fault. While it is likely that your lawyer will do much of the investigating, you can help the case by collecting necessary documents and offering input when needed.
Continue With Your Medical Care
It is crucial that you continue on with any necessary medical care. Medical concerns like a traumatic brain injury can take months, even years, to fully recover. You might be tempted to return to work earlier than you should in order to cover bills, but this can minimize the extent of your damages to the defense. Make sure you are following your physician’s orders and continue to receive the medical care that you need.
Contact a Westfield Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Personal Injury Case in New Jersey
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a personal injury in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan, LLC represent clients injured because of a personal injury in Elizabeth, Plainfield, Clifton, Woodbridge, and throughout New Jersey. Call (908) 325-5571 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 1827 E 2nd St, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 as well as offices in Westfield, Newark, East Brunswick, Clifton, Cherry Hill, and Elizabeth.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.