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What Vermonters Should Do After Being Injured In An Accident

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What Vermonters Should Do
After Being Injured In An Accident

man-wheelchair-walking-away

By Steven A. Bredice, Esq., Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist

Recovering from an injury after an accident can be a stressful and confusing process. You may be in a lot of physical pain, trying to make sense of your situation and piece your life back together, and it’s important to follow the right steps and prepare yourself for the struggle ahead.

Take Care Of Yourself First

First things first. If you’ve been injured, obtaining proper medical care and following your doctor’s orders is paramount. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may even be hospitalized or rendered completely incapacitated for some time. Either way, your first priority after an accident has to be taking care of your injuries and start the process of returning to good health.

Once your injuries have been diagnosed and treatment has been established, your thoughts can turn to the legal aspects of your situation. Step one should be documenting the facts.

Document Your Injuries

If you have cuts, scrapes, bruises, swelling or any other visible injury, it is critical that you take good, clear color photographs. The photos should document all stages of your injury, from the most acute stage through the various phases of healing. These should include not only close-up shots of the injured areas of your body, but full-body shots to prove that the injured body part is actually yours! If you have bloody or torn clothes, keep them. If your case involves an automobile accident, get or obtain photographs of the damage to your vehicle to demonstrate the severity of the impact.

In addition to pictures, consider whether your injuries and their effect on your life should be documented by video recording. If you are using a cane or crutches or a wheelchair in order to get around, this daily struggle should be preserved. In cases involving catastrophic injury, a “day-in-the-life” video should be considered. These videos document the reality of everyday life for someone who is incapacitated, from morning until night, depicting the care required for, and the struggle endured by, the injured person.

Chronicle Your Experience

You should also consider keeping a journal to document your treatment, recovery, pain, suffering and impairment. Chronicle each visit to every provider, whether it be a family doctor, a physical therapist, a specialist, or a diagnostic test. If keeping a journal is too difficult, at least keep track of these visits on a calendar. Jot down a brief note about each day’s pain and suffering as well.

Fight Back

Insurance adjusters and defense lawyers are fond of minimizing inconvenience, pain and suffering among accident victims. Keep the playing field level by positioning yourself to counter their tactics. Demonstrate the effect of your accident on your life, and you will have a fighting chance. It’s better to have clear and undeniable evidence on your side, even if you are unsure of the legal implications of the accident. When you need it later, you’ll be happy you planned ahead.

Have You Been Injured In An Auto Accident?


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Steven A. Bredice