To protect your rights when you’ve been injured by another party, there are certain things you must do right away after you’re injured. For example, you want to get the names and phone numbers of everyone involved, including witnesses so that you or your attorney can follow up with them later. But when it comes to personal injury cases, the experts at Yegendorf Rashid Injury Lawyers, https://yegendorflawfirm.ca/, want you to know what NOT to do if you’re injured by another party.
Do NOT Delay Getting Medical Treatment
Even if you don’t feel like you’ve been injured enough to seek medical treatment after an accident, you still need to be seen by a doctor. This is because injuries may not show up for several days or even weeks after a violent event. For instance, if you’re in a car accident, back and neck injuries can take a while to make themselves known. But, a doctor can perform specific tests to detect these injuries in their early stages.
Getting medical treatment as soon as possible after an accident is critical to protecting your potential injury settlement. If you don’t have medical documentation of an injury right after the accident, it’s possible the other party can claim it didn’t arise from the accident and is instead an unrelated injury. If they’re successful, you may not receive compensation for that injury at all.
Do NOT Sign Any Paperwork Until You’ve Had an Attorney Review It
If you were injured at a place of business or another person’s house, you should never sign anything, even if they say it’s just to acknowledge the incident or so that they can file a claim. Request that they give you the paperwork for you to sign and return. If they won’t give it to you, that’s a red flag. If they do give it to you, have an attorney look it over before you sign it.
The reason for this caution is that they could be trying to get you to sign a waiver that removes their responsibility for any accident that occurs on their property. Signing a waiver may not exempt them from responsibility, but it can make it much more challenging to pursue a claim. If the paperwork is legitimately needed to file a claim or for the company’s records, they will have no problem waiting for you to sign it later.
Do NOT Admit Any Measure of Fault
Due to a common tort law known as comparative fault, do not admit any measure of fault in an accident, even if you think you contributed to it to some degree. This is because the law in many jurisdictions awards compensation based on the percentage of fault that lies with each party involved in the accident.
For example, if you are speeding in a car and hit another vehicle that was turning left on a red light, the person who turned left might be deemed 80% responsible for the accident, but you might be deemed 20% at fault because of your speed.
It’s better to remain quiet at the scene of the accident and let your attorney speak on your behalf after all the facts are determined.
Conclusion
Above all, when you’ve fallen victim to an accident, take all steps necessary to protect your rights. Speak with an experienced personal injury attorney in Bronx right away to make sure you follow the right processes to get the compensation you deserve.
FAQ’S: Injured By Another Party
What is an injured party?
Injured party: A person who has received medical treatment for an injury or disease due to the claim. A guardian, personal representative or estate can represent the injured party.
What is a money compensation given to injured party?
Damages are money that is paid to one side or the other. It is a legal remedy. The injured party is responsible for any loss or damage caused by a breach of contract. Section 73 damages are compensatory, not penal.