Klein & Carney Co., LLC
Klein & Carney Co., LLC

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5 Steps To Take Following An Accidental Injury

Serious motor vehicle accidents result in a chaotic environment. There are obvious steps to take, of course, such as calling police and reporting injuries to get emergency responders en route. There are also some not-so-obvious steps that are important to complete whenever possible in order to protect your interests if the accident was caused by someone else’s negligence.

The personal injury lawyers at Klein & Carney Co., LLC, in Cleveland will work to ensure you recover the full amount you deserve following an injury accident. Caring for seriously injured parties is the priority, and collecting the information of others involved in the accident is important. Exchange names, contact information, auto insurance companies and other basics. It is natural to want to discuss who was at fault, but not a good idea. However, if others admit fault, write down their statements so you can report them later.

These Important Steps Will Support Your Own Cause

Once you have that information, if you are able to follow these steps at the scene of an accident, you will be helping your own cause by helping us build the strongest case possible. A smartphone becomes a great storage device for recording notes, photos and video.

Take photos and video. If possible, take photos and video before the vehicles involved are moved to the side of the road. Take additional photos after they are moved. You don’t know what details will be important at this point, so take as many photos and shoot as much video as possible.

Get the names and contact information of witnesses. Ask as many witnesses as possible what they saw. Write down names, numbers, email addresses and other contact information if they will share it.

Write down your own report of what occurred as soon as possible. The facts of an accident can become fuzzy a day or even several hours after it occurs. Record the facts as you recall them with as many specifics as possible. If you are unable to do this at the scene, do it as soon as possible, even if you have already completed a police report.

Obtain the police report as soon as possible and check it against the facts as you recall them. Police are not infallible. Accident reports often include mistakes. Verify they have the information right, including the directions in which the vehicles involved were traveling, the rate of speed, where the accident occurred, what passengers were in the vehicles and other specifics.

Notify your insurance provider, but speak with a lawyer before you get into details with any insurance representative. Keep in mind that an insurance company, whether it is your provider or an at-fault driver’s insurance company, is interested in minimizing the amount it pays on a claim. It is wise to enlist the assistance of experienced personal injury attorneys such as Larry Klein and Chris Carney who will communicate with insurance representatives on your behalf.

We Are Ready To Help You Recover What You Deserve

Call 216-502-3947, or use our online contact form to schedule a meeting. We represent injured parties throughout northeastern Ohio. If your injuries limit your mobility, we will come to you.