When an injury occurs, its almost always unexpected. The resulting damage can cause pain and suffering in the short term, but after a while, deeper rooted issues can occur. Medical expenses, therapy costs, and the wages lost from missed work can pile up, causing you and your family copious amounts of stress. Especially in a dire situation such as the one you may find yourself in one day, you have to clear your head and be able to think rationally. Being unable to do so can lead to unnecessary expenses, more stress, or worse, more damage to your already injured self.
What to Do?
The first thing that you should do if you are involved in an accident is worry about yourself and only yourself. As selfish as it may seem, it can actually prevent further damage to your injuries from occurring, and your life could actually be saved by doing so. The most important part: call 911 as soon as possible. If you are unable to call emergency services, ask or yell for help around you. Clearly explain to the operator what has happened, giving them the number of people involved as well as the precise location, and any other information that you or they deem necessary. One thing that many people fail to say during a 911 call is the address of the incident. In order for first responders to get to you quickly, you have to let them know where they need to go. Try to remain calm, as panicking helps nobody. Understandably, it will be hard if you or your family is injured and in pain, but you have to try your best to communicate efficiently and effectively with the dispatcher taking your call. Let the first responders do what they need to do, and make sure you are checked out before they leave, even if you didn’t receive any “significant” or “visible” injuries. Future damage or use of the injured areas may cause more pain, not felt at the current time of the incident.
Next?
Contact Portland Personal Injury Attorneys immediately. Don’t let the sheer immensity of the incident, no matter how big, take over your life. Let the professionals we can connect you to handle the complex things for you. Years of training that these lawyers undergo help them specialize in the specific fields your accident falls under, and help them assess the best way to approach your specific situation individually. While the insurance companies you are under may attempt to offer you various small settlements or try to help you resolve the issues, this may not always be the right way to go. Many times you are able to get much more than offered by using a professional attorney that understands the complex Oregon legal laws that surround personal injury claims.
A Final Word
Accidents are the last thing you want to deal with any an already filled schedule. The professionals at Portland Personal Injury Attorneys understand this, and actively seek solutions for your problems. Through a network of specialist attorneys, we can help you either reach a settlement or compensation that you rightfully deserve.