If you are someone who is always on the go or willing to go on a few adventures, you may be vulnerable to a few accidents every now and then. That said, if you do find yourself in a bit of a problem, you should know a few things regarding personal injury and even property damage if needed.
Regardless of what the accident it may be, it is important that you stay calm and assess the situation before making any drastic action and decision. Focus on your safety and health above all others.
Once the situation has settled down, here are the first things that you should think about:
Gather evidence
Gathering evidence will vary according to the situation. You can take photos of the incident with your phone and camera for future use. If you are unable to take photos, you can have somebody else take them for you.
The photos will be useful when you decide to sue the person or persons that caused the accident. There are, however, different forms of evidence that you can use to support your claims. One is looking for witnesses to the incident. While some people do not want to be involved in other people’s troubles, it would not hurt to ask for their help. They may have luckily caught footage of your accident, which can help support your case.
Another form of evidence that you can use is CCTV footage. CCTV cameras are almost everywhere. They are found in streets, at your local cafe, restaurant, banks, even in parks and other establishments. Secure a copy of the footage during the day and time when the incident occurred and you are one step closer to finalizing your claim.
Identify the injuries or damages
To put your case into more detail, you should list down all injuries that you have suffered and the physical damages that were brought on. This will make evaluating your claims much easier for your attorney.
For example, if you happen to be in a bicycle accident in a busy area like Los Angeles, your attorney can measure the amount of physical damages that were brought on to your bike, such as the frame, brakes, gears, and so on. Your bicycle injury lawyer then adds that to the injuries you suffered throughout the whole ordeal and now you have a proper claim on your hands.
Identify who is at fault
Not all claims can be easily validated by a simple point of a finger. While at face value, it may seem that the opposing party may have been at fault, it could well possibly be your fault in the first place.
For example, if you were cycling in the road and a car accidentally bumped you, most of the time, the driver of the car would be responsible for the accident. However, if you made an illegal turn or were distracted on the road while cycling, then not only will your claims be invalid, the driver can then sue you for any damages or injuries on his end.
If you ever get into an accident, you should always be aware of your surroundings and gather all the evidence you can get. After which, you should get yourself a lawyer and prepare to file a claim based on your injuries or damages.
