Attorneys at Law

Disclaimer: The information contained in this FAQ is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to be a legal opinion, legal advice or a complete discussion of the issues related to a personal injury case. Every individual's factual situation is different and you should seek independent legal advice from an attorney familiar with the laws of your state or locality regarding specific information.

As Soon as an Collision Happens:

• Stop your car. Failure to stop can result in serious criminal consequences.
• If possible, move your car so it doesn't block traffic.
• Warn approaching traffic with flares and/or your car's flashers.
• Call the police. If anyone is injured, call for an ambulance.

At the Scene of the Collision:

• Do not make any statements about who caused the collision.
• Note carefully any statements made by other people involved in the collision.
• Get the following information from the driver(s) of the other vehicle(s) involved in the collision:
  
  • Driver's license. Get the driver's birth date, license number and the state of issue.
  • Vehicle make, model, year, and tag number. Ask to see the registration card to confirm this important information.
  • Name, address and phone numbers (home and work) of the driver.
  • Name, address and phone numbers (home and work) of the owner of the vehicle.
  • The insurance Policy Number, the name of the insurance company, and the agent's name, address, and phone number.

• Get the names, addresses, and home and work phone numbers of anyone who saw any part of the collision (witnesses) or came on the scene afterwards.
• Tell the police officer that you want a written report of the collision. (Sometimes, if no one appears to be immediately injured, the police will not prepare a report.) Take down the officer's name, badge number and department.
• If injured, or if you aren't sure if you are OK, go immediately by ambulance or car to a hospital emergency room. CAUTION: Due to the shock of the collision, you may not realize how badly you are hurt. If you are unsure, be on the safe side and go to the hospital or see your doctor right away. DO NOT DELAY! You may not be aware of the full extent of soft tissue injury until days or weeks after the collision. You should have a doctor familiar with auto collision injuries, such as an orthopaedist, examine you promptly. Seeing a doctor immediately is very important in getting fair compensation for your personal injury.

Immediately After the Collision:

• Call your attorney! The sooner your attorney is brought into the matter, the better he or she can advise you and protect your rights. Your attorney will help you process your medical bills, work with the insurance companies and help you get a fair recovery for your injuries.

• Describe What Happened—Write out a detailed description of the collision, including location, time of day, weather conditions, description of the roadway, speed limit, traffic lights, stop signs, etc. The sooner you do this, the more precise your recollection will be.

• Talk To No One—You should not talk to anyone about your collision except one of the lawyers or investigators in your lawyer's office. You should always require some identification so that you are sure to whom you are speaking. You should not even talk to your own insurance company without notifying your lawyer first.

• Traffic Offenses—Never plead guilty to any traffic offenses or pay any tickets in connection with the collision without speaking with your lawyer first. If you receive a ticket, call your lawyer immediately, and he or she will see that someone represents or advises you.

• Witnesses—Give your lawyer immediately the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all witnesses to the collision and people who came on the scene after the collision.

• Photographs— Take pictures of any severe bodily injuries and damage to your car immediately. This will vividly record what happened. Send your lawyer the negatives and copies of prints of any photographs you have pertaining to your case. Helpful photographs include those which show damage to your vehicle, shots of the collision scene and pictures of your injuries.

• Car Repair—If your car has not been repaired, do not do so until you speak with your lawyer—he or she may want to take pictures or have the car inspected. If it has been repaired, supply your lawyer with copies of all estimates and bills.

• Your Doctor—You should follow as precisely as possible the advice and course of treatment recommended by your doctor or other health care providers. Do not minimize and do not exaggerate your ailments to your doctor or health care provider, as he or she needs to know the true extent of your problems to best know how to treat you. If you see any additional doctors or health care providers, be sure to immediately let your attorney know their names, addresses and telephone numbers.

• Record of Complaints—Please keep a daily or weekly record or diary of your condition and progress. Record how you feel on a day-to-day basis and how your life is affected by your injuries. This can be very helpful in dealing with the insurance company and if a trial is necessary. Again, do not minimize or exaggerate your problems; write down exactly how you are feeling.

• Wages And Earnings Lost—Please keep an accurate record of all time lost from work because of your injuries, including time off to visit doctors and therapists. Please have your employer send your lawyer written confirmation of this and the amount of wages represented by this time lost. Your lawyer need this information even if you are compensated for your lost pay through sick leave or vacation time. (Note: Some states do not allow recovery for lost time if you received sick leave or vacation time.)

• Medical Bills—Keep copies of all your medical, hospital and drug bills, and send the original bills to your lawyer. You should also keep records of any other expenses you have in connection with your collision, such as the hiring of extra help and mileage or taxi fare for visits to doctors. All your expenses should be paid by check or you should get a receipt. If you have health or medical insurance to cover such bills, or if this is a Worker's Compensation case, please speak with your lawyer before submitting bills for payment. If you can pay the amount not covered by insurance, don't not pay because of the case, but, again, speak with your lawyer first.

• Questions—Your lawyer will probably not contact you on a set schedule but will contact you from time to time when necessary. That you do not hear from him or her is not an indication that they are not working on your file—a great deal of work is done between the insurance company and the lawyers, and the parties are not directly involved. If you have any specific questions about your case at any time, please write or call your lawyer.
  

We can help you get a fair recovery for personal injuries suffered in automobile collisions, slip and falls, medical malpractice and products liability matters. Please call us at (301) 924-4400 or e-mail us to set up an appointment.