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| Jeffrey Freedman - Attorneys at Law | |||||
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ACCIDENT & INJURY Accidents do happen...every day. No
one ever anticipates being a victim of an accident, but sometimes an unlikely
event does occur. We've grouped together some common questions about what steps
to take if you're in a car accident, injured by a product or injured at work.
Keep in mind that although every situation is different, the answers we provided
can be used as guidelines.Q.
Should the police be notified at the accident scene? A.
Yes. Q. What should I do if anyone
appears injured? A. Telephone for an ambulance or other
appropriate transportation to a hospital. Tell the investigating police officer
about the injuries and cooperate fully with health care providers.Q. What should I do if I'm
injured? A. If you sustained any injuries, seek medical
attention as soon as possible--medical documentation can be very important later
on even if your injuries seem minor now.Above all, if your injuries persist, keep a diary of your medical condition and treatments. This information may be especially helpful if you decide to contact a personal injury attorney for legal assistance. Q. Should I
move my vehicle? A. Unless your vehicle is creating the
potential for another accident, do not move it or the accident debris until you
are instructed to do so by the investigating police officer. Q. Is it okay to talk about the
accident? A. Do not discuss the accident with anyone other
than the investigating police officer, your doctors, your own insurance
representatives and your lawyer. Q. What information do I need from the other driver(s),
witnesses? A. Get the name, address, telephone number and
automobile insurance information from the other driver(s). Also, get the names,
addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses to the accident. Q. What other information or
documentation do I need? A. Make notes of any statements made
by the other driver(s) or occupants of the other vehicle about how the accident
occurred. You may also want to take photographs of any damage to your
vehicle. Q. Do I need to notify my
insurance company about the accident? A.Yes. Promptly report
the accident to your insurance company. Product
Injuries Q. What steps do I take if I'm
injured by a product? A. By all means, keep as much evidence
from the product as possible. You'll need the product to establish the case. For
example, if an aerosol can explodes or if a wheel falls off a bike, save as many
pieces as possible. Try not to disburb the site of the accident. Take a
photograph of the accident, especially if you need to clean up the site. Note
the manufacturer's name on the product, the serial number, model number and
other pertinent information. You should retain the product package, the
instructions and store receipts.Take time to record exactly how you remember the accident, including the time and day of the event. And always, keep a complete diary of medical treatments, including the name of the hospital and the doctors that administer treatment to you. Work Injuries Q. What happens if I'm injured
at work? A. In most cases, Workers' Compensation will cover
your injuries. And as a general rule, you can't bring action against your
employer for the accident. However, there may be reasons to initiate a lawsuit
against a third party. For example, if you were working on property owned by
another company, and hazardous conditions existed on that property, the property
owner could be liable. If you were injured by a machine at work, you could bring
action against the machine's manufacturer for defective design.In any work-related injury, it's best to consult with your attorney who will review the details of the accident. Again, a diary of the event and medical documentation could be important. |
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