Do the attorneys at The Law Offices of Keith L. Howard, PLLC represent personal injury clients in all counties in North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and South Carolina?
Yes, we have the capacity to represent clients in all three states and Washington, D.C.
What are the first four steps you should take if you are in an auto accident?
Oftentimes, injured victims are unable to recover all of the damages they should recover due to mistakes. If the injured victim takes the proper steps, that increases his chance at receiving a full recovery. Below are the first four steps one should take after being injured in an auto accident:
- Seek medical attention: You should immediately seek medical treatment. Just because you may not feel any pain or believe you are healthy, you will never know if you do not seek medical treatment. Back injuries and head trauma may not manifest for days, weeks, or months after the accident. You need to protect your health and interests. If you hire an attorney to represent you, it is important for the attorney to have medical information about your health. Without that information, the attorney will likely not be able to help you secure all of the damages you should be entitled to.
- Report your injury: Immediately after the car accident, you need to report the incident to your insurance provider and local law enforcement agency. However, do not contact the defendant’s insurance company without first discussing your case with an attorney. Most personal injury attorneys provide free consultations. By contacting your insurance company and reporting the accident to the local law enforcement agency, you will establish a valid record that it happened and that you fulfilled your legal duties.
- Secure evidence: Successful personal injury claims require evidence. After suffering an injury, you need to take the necessary steps to preserve any evidence that you can get your hands on. For example, secure the defendant’s name, address, phone number, and insurance company information, images of the vehicles, pictures of your own damages and those of your passengers, and any other evidence related to the incident. You also want to get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Again, you may have a great case but without evidence, you may not receive all of the compensation you are entitled to.
- Contact an attorney: Ultimately, the most important thing you can do after an serious accident is to consult with a South Carolina personal injury attorney. Your attorney can make sure that you do everything the right way so that your legal rights are protected. As one example, your personal injury attorney will ensure that you can gather and secure all forms of evidence that are relevant to your claim.
Do I need an attorney if I was slightly injured in an auto accident?
It depends. You should always consult an attorney if you were injured during a car accident. Most personal injury attorneys offer free initial consultations.
Do I need an attorney if I am injured at my friend’s house?
Maybe. You should consult an attorney if you are injured at your friend’s house, a school, office building, grocery store, or any other building. Depending on the facts, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Do I need an attorney if I suffer an injury at work?
Yes, if you are ever injured at your job, with a few exceptions, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. I would strongly recommend you contact a workers’ compensation attorney if you are ever injured at work. You also want to immediately inform your employer whenever the injury occurs. That applies to an employee driving a vehicle for an employer or an employee simply sitting in a cubicle that suffers a wrist injury.