Important Steps To Take After Suffering An Injury

It’s very common for people to suffer injuries during their lifetime. Whether it’s a minor one or something more serious, it’s important to take the right steps immediately, to prevent matters from becoming worse. Someone may be wondering ‘what is a physiotherapist?’ or ‘should they take time off work?’ They may consider having a medical assessment or taking out a legal claim for compensation.

If you or a loved one have recently experienced some form of accident, you may be wondering similar things. If that’s the case, this article will fill you in on the key steps you now need to take.

Advise A Legal Professional

If you have suffered an injury, it’s important to seek legal counsel from a personal injury lawyer. If the accident was due to someone else’s negligence or intentional actions, they may be held liable for what happened to you. In this scenario, you should take out a legal claim for compensation to cover such things as loss of earnings, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

When it comes to road accident claims, it’s not always the drivers who are at fault. The issue could have sprung from a poorly maintained road (e.g. potholes or poor lighting). If someone was injured on MBTA transportation equipment (e.g. commuter rail or bus) or location (e.g. Boston subway), there are specialist lawyers who can help. An MBTA accident attorney website will provide contact details and names, and guidance on how to secure an initial consultation. There may also be details of their awards and accreditations, claims successes or client testimonials.

Collect The Evidence

Get witness statements (and full contact details) from people who saw the accident. They may even be prepared to speak onto your smartphone in order to provide a verbal account of what has just happened and why. If appropriate, take photographs of any damage caused to your car or other vehicles involved in the incident. Also take pictures of debris on the freeway – and the surrounding area, including road signs.

If you have been hurt through someone else’s negligence, notify the Police that this has just happened. They will ask you for evidence, so be sure to hand over copies of things like witness statements and photographs. If it was a road collision, the Police may need to attend the incident scene. Take their names and details of the Police Accident Report reference number. This is so you can request a copy for your attorney, once it’s been produced.

Seek Medical Assessment

The first (and most important) thing people need to do is seek a medical assessment. If you don’t, you may not realize the extent of your injury and could be at risk of long-term health problems. Adrenaline can sometimes cover over pain and things like whiplash may not be evidenced initially.

The doctors will provide advice and treatment for the injury as well as any ongoing care that you may require (e.g. physiotherapy or rehabilitation programs). They’ll take into account the type of work you perform when they recommend your next course of action. It may be that you will need to refrain from certain tasks in order to protect your recovery or even stay off work for a while.

Make sure you follow your doctor’s instructions: don’t skip your medication or miss any exercises recommended by a physiotherapist. X-rays, MRI scans and specialist reports can sometimes be used as supporting evidence for legal claims.

File A Workers’ Compensation Claim

If you work and were injured on the job, you must advise your supervisor/manager immediately because you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. The law requires your employer to carry this type of insurance. If they don’t have it, you can still file a claim yourself and sue the company in court if necessary.

You should contact your lawyer as soon as possible after suffering from work-related injuries because there might be deadlines associated with filing a claim and/or suing someone else. If your claim is successful, you will receive benefits that may include compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and future medical care (depending on the extent of your injuries).

Review Your Health Insurance

Many insured people don’t realize that their policy won’t cover all of their medical costs. Make sure your coverage matches what was explained during enrollment and if there are any questions contact customer service immediately for clarification.

It’s also wise to check with your employer before filing a claim as they should be aware of the relevant details. For instance, they may know why something wasn’t covered under the plan. One possibility is that you had a pre-existing condition when you were enrolled.

Receive Therapy

A huge amount of people experience trauma at some point in their lives. The more severe the trauma, the greater the risk of developing PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and things like depression or anxiety. If you are suffering from trauma symptoms after an injury it is important to seek therapy immediately so that you can be treated early on before it leads to long-term issues.There are many different types of therapies available including EMDR – which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing. This is where the professional will help you reprocess your memories in a way that makes them less distressing.

You may be referred to a physical therapist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist or chiropractor, in which case it will be important to work closely with them.

Be Patient

Time is your best friend when it comes to recovery, and the more patient you are the faster your body will heal itself. By not rushing or pushing yourself too hard you can help prevent long-term damage. If possible, try to take a break from work in order to focus on self-care and rest.

Each of these steps will speed you forward on your journey to recovery. Be sure to maximize the help of your friends and family, and the legal and medical care. In turn, you will hopefully be able to resume your life in the best way possible.