Practical Steps To Take After A Christmas Season Accident In Louisiana
For most Americans, the Christmas holiday season provides some of the fondest memories of the year. However, many activities during the holiday season can pose risks of personal injury to you, your children, and other loved ones.
A combination of school holidays and parties puts teens at a greater risk of engaging in perilous behavior.
If you do suffer injuries as a result of an accident or another mishap, you must know your rights.
Common causes of Christmas holiday injuries include:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Decorating home accidents
- Toy-related accidents
- Holiday event accidents
- Delivery accidents
- Negligent security
- Dog bites
- Firework-related accidents
- Food poisoning
- Holiday home rental accidents
- Christmas parade accidents
Important Steps To Take After An Accident
The measures you take soon after the unfortunate incident can have a major impact on your overall health, and on your accident case too. Our Louisiana personal injury lawyers recommend that you do the following:
Assess Your Injuries
Call 911 or ask someone else to do so if you have suffered injuries.
If your injuries are severe, try not to move, and wait for emergency services to arrive.
After the accident, you may be shaken up, upset, or confused. You may be unable to understand the extent of your injuries. Many severe injuries may take days or even weeks to appear. It is very important to assess and document your injuries thoroughly.
Document The Accident
If you have no injuries, document the accident by taking photographs of the accident site from different angles. If there are any witnesses to the incident, take down their names and their contact information.
If you are in a motor vehicle accident, you must exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver/s.
The necessary information drivers should exchange after an accident include the other driver’s full name and contact information, insurance company and policy number, driver’s license and license plate number, the type, color, and model of vehicle/s, and location of the accident.
Avoid Speaking About Your Accident
The only people you should discuss your accident with are your doctors and attorney. Avoid making statements or giving details of the accident on social media outlets. While speaking to representatives of other parties, refrain from blaming anyone or accepting blame for the accident.
Obtaining Evidence
Most accident victims are unfamiliar with the personal injury claims process.
The first few days after a personal injury offer opportunities to obtain and secure essential evidence you may need to prove the cause of the accident and the extent of injuries.
A thorough accident investigation is crucial to prove the cause of your injuries and determine at-fault parties.
Police departments and insurance companies allot very limited time or resources to investigate your claim. A personal injury lawyer will investigate your case, which may involve hiring expert witnesses and finding all of the evidence available.
Gathering evidence ensures that your case is strong. Evidence may include medical records, photographs of the injury scene, accident witness statements, and experts’ reports.
Personal injury lawyers recognize and anticipate legal issues before they arise and intervene on your behalf.
Calling The Insurance Company First Could Hurt Your Claim
Insurance companies are keen to settle accident claims quickly. All insurance companies, including yours, have one goal – to pay victims less. A personal injury lawyer in Louisiana can help you understand your insurance policies, communicate with the insurance company on your behalf, and gather the right documents and witness statements.
You could handle your case on your own, but Louisiana personal injury laws are difficult to navigate.
A personal injury lawyer can help maximize the compensation you receive for medical expenses, property damage, pain and suffering, lost income from work, and more.
Justice Never Rests At Bart Bernard Injury Lawyers – Our Louisiana Personal Injury Lawyers Are Always Available
The Christmas holidays are a time of joy and giving, not suffering and bemoaning over injuries through no fault of your own.
If a significant injury disrupts your time with your loved ones during this holiday season, the lawyers at Bart Bernard Injury Lawyers are ready to help you.
At our Louisiana personal injury law firm, we ensure that our clients have access to our attorneys when they are in need. Clients come to attorneys in times of need, fear, and uncertainty.
When our clients call our law firm, they get to talk to their lawyers, not secretaries, paralegals, or voicemails.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries anywhere in Louisiana due to another party’s irresponsible or negligent actions during the Christmas holidays, call us or fill out our free case evaluation form, and we will be in touch promptly.
We can provide the support you deserve and the legal representation you need.
Our law firm would like to extend our warmest wishes to all Louisianans for a joyous and safe Christmas.
We also want to remind you to prioritize safety in all your celebrations. Whether you’re traveling, enjoying festivities, or simply spending time with loved ones, please take precautions to ensure a safe and accident-free holiday season.
Contact us if you have any legal concerns or questions during this festive time.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
