What Are Your Rights after Suffering a Personal Injury?
We’ve written about personal injuries before on this site, but in this post, we’re going to talk specifically about what rights you have following a personal injury. Injuries can result from a vehicle collision, accident at work, or other mishaps caused by the negligence of another party.
You’ll probably agree that the immediate aftermath of a personal injury is not an optimal time to start thinking about legal rights and monetary restitution, but it is important that you know about your rights before such an accident even happens. Let’s document a few of your rights following a personal injury so you can be informed when you call up a personal injury lawyer for legal assistance. In the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, area, JPP Law specializes in personal injury law and offers free consultations in these cases.
Right to Document the Accident
No matter who is at fault in a personal injury situation, you have the right to take notes at the scene if you were injured. Your first-hand written account of the event will undoubtedly be more accurate than your memory recall even a few days later. Be sure to include all the details of your injury, and take photos if you think they would help police or lawyers later.
Right to Call Emergency Responders
When you have been injured in an accident, you have the right to notify emergency responders such as police and paramedics, and we highly recommend you do so immediately, even if your injury doesn’t seem severe. Police should be involved to file reports, especially in situations with high amounts of property damage, such as car accidents. And you should have paramedics look you over in case the extent of your injuries is more serious than you believe.
Right to Speak to an Attorney
Laws surrounding personal injuries, insurance, and fault in accidents can be difficult to navigate, especially because the details of these laws vary by U.S. state. No-fault auto insurance states, for example, require injured parties in car accidents to seek claims from their own insurers rather than from the insurers of the responsible parties. In tort states, an injured person would file a claim with the responsible party’s insurance.
There are even more nuances that are a bit too complicated for the scope of this article. That’s why we recommend talking to a personal injury lawyer if you are confused at all about your rights following a personal injury. These attorneys know the ins and outs of how best to stand up for your rights and get you the financial compensation you deserve.
