Neck or back injuries can be made
worse by improper handling of the spine.
Spine injuries can be made worse
by sudden jolts or movements.
Ask for an ambulance if your neck
or back feels seriously injured.
Be Cautious About
Head Injuries.
Seek immediate medical attention
if you have hit your head, particularly if you
have dizziness, nausea or vomiting.
Watch out for the following signs
of a traumatic brain injury
(also known as a closed head injury or
postconcussive syndrome).
headaches
lightheadedness
confusion
dizziness, nausea and
vomiting
blurred ordouble
vision
ringing in the ears
a funny taste in the mouth
tiredness and a change in
sleep patterns
a lack of interest in doing
things
changes in behavior, mood and
temper
difficulty remembering and
concentrating
difficulty doing things that
require several steps
Get Medical
Attention.
Be aware that some serious
injuries, including internal injuries, concussions
and even fractures, are not always immediately
apparent.
X-rays, MRI's and CT Scans
may be required to determine if there has been a
serious injury, particularly in regard to the
spine and joints such as the shoulder, elbow,
wrist, knee and ankle.
Get Names of
Witnesses.
Ask any witnesses to give you
their name, telephone number and address.
Keep witness information in a
safe place.
Take
Pictures. Take pictures as soon as
possible of where you fell and of what caused you to
fall. This is especially important if the fall
was due to ice or snow. Takes pictures of:
The place where you fell.
Take close up pictures of the
exact place where you fell.
In some of the pictures,
show the exact spot of the fall by placing
an object such as a stone, stick or pen in
the spot.
In some of the pictures,
lay down a ruler to show the size of the
ice patch, pavement crack, or other object
that caused the fall.
Take some long distance
pictures to identify the general area of the
fall.
Try to get house numbers,
street signs or other identifying objects
in the picture.
In some of the pictures,
show the spot of the fall by placing an
object there or having a person stand at
the spot.
Bruises, stitches, scars and
other injuries.
Include your face in some of
the pictures to identify yourself as the
injured person.
In some of the pictures,
place a ruler next to bruises, stitches or
scars to show size.
Preserve Other
Evidence.
Keep the shoes you were wearing
when you fell.
Write down everything you
remember about the fall, including the description
of any objects that you were carrying, and save
this information in a safe place so that you can
give it to your lawyer.
Ask for copies of any reports
made by store personnel, property managers or
other persons.
If the fall was caused by ice or
snow, save the weather section of the newspaper to
have a record of the weather conditions.
Save the weather section from
the day of the fall and the last 2 or 3 days
before the fall, in order to show the last
time there was snow and the temperature range.
Save the weather section from
the day after the fall as this will show the
weather conditions on the day of the fall.
Do Not Discuss the
Accident with Insurance Persons on Investigators.
You should not speak to anyone
about the accident other than your doctor or
lawyer .
Do not get persuaded, tricked or
confused into talking to an insurance company or
to an investigator about the accident.
Call An
Experienced Accident Lawyer.
Help Your
Accident Lawyer Collect Evidence. The
days immediately following an accident are the most
crucial time to gather and preserve evidence.
Help your lawyer by doing the following:
Write down everything you
remember about the accident and give the statement
to your lawyer.
Give your lawyer the names and
addresses of any witnesses.
Give your lawyer any pictures of
vehicle damage, the accident scene or your
injuries.
If no photographs have yet been
taken, make arrangements for your lawyer to get
pictures of vehicle damage or of injuries.
Keep a diary of how your pain and
injuries affect you each day and give the diary to
your lawyer.
When You Need a Personal
Injury Lawyer,
Rely on Us for Skill,
Determination and Experience.
