• 08
  • February
    2012

Many people fail to consider what they should do, or what a loved one should do on their behalf, in the event of a debilitating injury such as a brain injury or a spine injury. When an injury occurs, the stress and anxiety facing family members is often high. That's why it's important to have a discussion with your family about what to do in the event you are seriously injured in a car accident, truck accident or other California accident.

It is wise to discuss these five steps with family so everyone is on the same page about the action to take after a debilitating injury including:

  • Encourage your loved one to seek medical attention: Even if your loved one says he or she is not seriously hurt, encourage him or her to seek immediate medical attention. Many life-threatening injuries take hours to manifest.
  • Call police or other parties to report the accident: While the police are often called following an accident with significant injuries, it may be necessary to report the accident to other parties such as property owners, insurance companies or workers' comp companies. Talk to an attorney about who should be notified of the accident.
  • Identify witnesses: Either from the victim or the police, seek out the names and numbers of any witnesses to the San Diego accident.
  • Write down details of the accident: If possible, you should go to the scene of the accident, take photos and notes about the scene. Record the weather, speed limit and any other potentially relevant information. If possible, you should also ask the victim to recant his or her side of the story.
  • Keep a record of everything: You should record the injured victim's doctors' names, treatment recommendations, pain and prescription medicine. It's important to write down every detail following the accident.

Proactively discussing the steps to take after an accident can reduce the stress of all parties involved to help in the process of protecting your rights.

Source: FindLaw, "Top 5 Things to Do After an Injury," Stephanie Rabiner, 1/31/2012