Whenever you or a loved one is injured due to the actions or negligence of another party, there are some definitive steps that need to be taken in order to protect the rights and health of the injured party. No matter what the injury is or how severe it seems at the time, knowing the proper things to do can make a huge difference in your recovery and possible compensation.

Here are some tips for what to do in the unfortunate event that you or a family member gets injured.

Keep Good Documentation

First and foremost, limit what you say after an injury. Don’t accept blame for the accident but don’t make accusations at this point either. If your accident or injury happens on commercial or government, ask for a copy of any accident report from them as well as a copy of any police report. Write down the names and contact info for any witnesses or staff present at the time and if possible, take some photos of the area.

However, it is highly advised that you do NOT post details or opinions about the accident on social media. Doing so is potentially harmful to any case you may bring and in some cases, you may even face litigation for libel.

Seek Medical Attention ASAP

Whether you are taken by ambulance or not, you should still see your personal doctor or visit a hospital immediately. At first, some sprains, bruises, twisted and strained muscles, back and neck injuries, and even hairline fractures may not seem as bad as they really are, and neglecting to be seen by a medical professional can be quite costly.

Any injury has the potential to sideline you for an indeterminate amount of time and if severe enough, you could suffer through severe pain and a lengthy recovery period. Of course, this can lead to job loss and inherent financial issues and without medical proof of injury, proving that you deserve compensation will be very difficult to do.

While it’s extremely important to have proper documentation of the accident, having your injuries examined and properly treated is absolutely necessary any time you suffer a personal injury.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney in NY

Consulting with a personal injury firm can help you determine if you do have grounds for a lawsuit. Be sure to take your accident and treatment documentation and as this type of litigation can be somewhat tricky in New York, you should consider working with a firm that specializes in personal injury.

During your initial free consultation, an experienced attorney will determine the merits of your case and the overall chance for success and discuss the steps necessary to take next. When you or a loved one is injured due to the fault of someone else, having a lawyer representing you is the best way to ensure that your rights are protected.