When you have been in a personal injury accident or car accident, you may consider contacting a personal injury lawyer about your injuries. Before you considering filing a lawsuit for your injuries, you must take some important steps immediately after the accident.

When you are in an accident, you are subject to shock and trauma. This shock causes adrenaline, which impacts the brain and interferes with your ability to think clearly. When you cannot think clearly, you may walk away from the scene of an accident without getting documentation from the police on the scene, or before seeking medical treatment. Whiplash is a common injury that is sustained during an accident. The first 3 days after an accident are the most important. There tends to be a large amount of swelling in the body after an accident, especially after an injury such as whiplash. There is often injury to the soft tissue when you suffer from whiplash. This damage causes permanent scar tissue in your muscles, which is often difficult to treat if not taken care of immediately.

You may experience symptoms that you think are not a big deal, such as headaches, muscle aches, and even fatigue. These symptoms may be signs that something more serious is happening. Most often, you may not feel any pain right after the accident, but that does not mean that you do not have injuries. It may take weeks before the symptoms show. You may have internal bleeding, damage to your ligaments, herniated discs, and even fractures. These problems may not be seen without proper exams or tests.

You should be treated immediately by a medical professional that is trained to deal with emergencies and accidents. You do not want to go to your primary care doctor. While they may be a great doctor, you will need medical records from those that have the training, knowledge, and expertise to treat your injuries. You want to make sure you get copies of all your medical records and any medical treatment plans. Do not rely on the doctors and hospitals to supply them to the appropriate people. You want to make sure you have proper records. It is also in your best interest to understand the severity of your injuries and the necessary treatment plan. You want to know how long the injuries and symptoms will last, how long and what is required for your treatment, as well as some idea of cost.

When you are determining your treatment plan, you want to know if there will need to be any rehab. You want to find out how much time this will take away from work and if you will have any lost wages. You also want to understand if your injuries will impact your ability to do your job or perform normal daily activities. Before you decide to file a settlement, you need to have all of the information about how long your injuries will last and what type of implications they will have on your life.