If you have been involved in an accident you will know what a stressful and traumatic event it can be for everyone involved. At times like these it can be difficult to keep a clear head and remember what to do next, but making the right decisions now can make life a lot easier for your no win no fee solicitors later on.
However the accident happens, whether you were at work, on your holiday, in your car or just around your local area the top piece of advice is to stay calm. Try to think before you speak to avoid anything being brought up later on that might impinge your claim. Never admit any fault at the scene as this will be for legal teams to decide later on.
Sometimes a small slip or trip can seem like nothing but often serious injuries can present themselves a day or two later, particularly those concerned with joints and backs. This means even for a minor incident you should make sure you follow correct procedure in case you need to claim for injury compensation later.
Incidents in the workplace should always be reported to a first aider and recorded in the accident book with as much detail and accuracy as possible. Take note of any witnesses to the incident as your solicitor may need to contact them later on in relation to any injury compensation claim you decide to make.
If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, it is important to call the police even for a minor shunt. The police will take accurate notes of the positioning of the vehicles and will be able to release these to accident investigators in relation to your motor insurance or injury compensation claim.
If something happens out of your control which involves the fault of another person or company, for example items falling off scaffolding at building sites, then it’s a good idea to take a note of all the people and companies involved on site so your solicitor can approach them later. If you are unable to do this then make sure the police are involved so that they can.
Wherever your accident occurs and whoever is involved, it can be incredibly helpful to your case if you are able to take photographs at the scene. Most mobile phones these days come with cameras, so try to record anything you think might be helpful later on.
Possibly the best piece of advice relating to accidents and injuries is to contact one of the many no win no fee solicitors available as soon as possible in the process as they will be able to advise you on the best course of action to help your injury compensation claim. Plenty of these solicitors offer free advice over the phone and some are available 24 hours a day, so make this one of your first calls following the accident.
Nathan Payne has previously written articles for First4Lawyers who deal with injury claims and whiplash compensation.