Personal injuries after accidents in Missouri are far too common. After these events, you will need to not only protect your health but also your legal rights. Whenever another person or company is responsible for the incident that results in your injuries, you have the right to seek compensation for your losses. Even so, the burden lies on you to prove another’s fault and how the event has changed your life.
There are a few steps that you can take following your personal injury accident in Missouri that can help improve your chances of success. These steps can also serve to protect your health and minimize the impact of the incident on your future.
Seek Out all Necessary Medical Care
Your first priority following an accident that results in a personal injury in Missouri should be to protect your health. This can include going to an emergency room as quickly as possible on your own or calling an ambulance for transportation.
Obtaining prompt medical care is important for many reasons. Critically, it will improve your chances of making a complete recovery and helps limit any long-term damage.
In addition, seeking proper medical care also works as a way to memorialize the incident. For example, emergency room records will indicate the source of the injuries. This may include a car accident, a slip and fall, or an assault. Medical records always form a key component of any personal injury case in Missouri. Having a complete account of the incident and the required medical care makes it clear that your injuries were connected to the incident and were another’s fault.
Obtain Evidence from the Scene of the Incident
While seeking prompt medical care is always your first priority, the moments following an accident also provide a unique opportunity to prove another’s fault. This is because there will never be another chance to gather evidence that will disappear over time. This evidence can include:
- Pictures and videos of the scene
- The names of witnesses
- The exact location of hazards that contributed to the event
Smartphones are a powerful tool for people looking to prove that another’s negligence was the source of their injuries. If you are able, use these tools to begin building a case immediately after an incident.
Talking with a Lawyer Could Help You Better Understand Your Rights and How to Proceed
It is never a bad idea to seek out legal help following an accident that results in personal injury. An attorney at the Wegmann Law Firm can explain the laws that apply to your case and how they may impact a demand for compensation. For example, Missouri Revised Statute § 516.120 places a time limit of five years from the date of an incident to demand compensation following many accidents.
An attorney could also help you deal with the insurance companies likely to be handling a claim. Always remember that insurance companies exist to make money and will not pay a proper settlement on a case unless you make it clear that their insured was responsible for an accident. Letting a lawyer take the lead in your case lets them gather the relevant information about your injuries and demands that insurance companies provide proper compensation.
Once you hire an attorney to handle your case, the insurance company can no longer talk with you directly. As a result, hiring a lawyer also helps take the stress of a case off your shoulders. Reach out to the Wegmann Law Firm now to discuss your case and see how they could help.
