Immediately following an accident where you have injured, it is very important to take certain steps to protect your rights:

• If involved in an automobile accident, immediately after the collision and if you are physically able, obtain the name, address, telephone number, driver’s license information, and insurance information of the other parties involved.  Write it down someplace where you won’t forget it.  Keep it someplace where you won’t lose it.
• If involved in slip and fall or trip and fall accident, as soon as you are able, be sure to look at what caused you to trip and/or slip and fall.  See if you can determine what caused the condition to materialize and see if you can determine where the condition came from, what caused the condition, and how long it may have been there based on the physical surroundings.
• If there are any witnesses at the scene of your accident, ask them to give you their name and telephone number so you might be able to contact them, if necessary.
• If you are injured on the property of a commercial establishment, like a department store, restaurant, or grocery store, be sure to report the incident to personnel and be sure the incident is documented by the personnel by way of some written form.
• At the scene of any automobile collision, call the police, since you are required by law to do so, and this will ensure that the offending driver, if any, is given a citation.  Do not leave the scene of the accident until such time as the officers have authorized to do so.  The presence of police officers will help to assist in interviewing witnesses at the accident scene.  By all means, if the police recommend you be transported by ambulance to a medical facility, follow their recommendation.
• At your first available opportunity, contact your insurance agent and/or your insurance carrier and report your accident to them.
• When and if the offending driver’s insurance company and/or other driver contacts you directly for purposes of giving a statement or signing an authorization to release medical information, respectfully decline to do so.  Refer them to your attorney, Goodman, Acker, P.C.  Ask that they only contact you by and through your attorneys in the future.
• If you have gone to an emergency room, contact your family physician or recommended specialists as soon as possible for necessary follow up treatment.
• If you need to see a doctor for injuries you sustained, be careful in what you tell your doctor about how the accident occurred so that he may accurately reflect that in the history, and be sure to explain to your doctor the full nature and extent of any complaints you may be experiencing at the time of the examination, as well as what you have experienced leading up to the examination.
• Shortly after the accident, take time to write down a detailed accounting and/or chronology as to the facts and circumstances surrounding your accident while it is fresh in your mind.
• If you have been injured by any kind of product, you should be sure to retain all parts of the product and all purchase documents in order to prove a claim against the company responsible.
• If medical receipts or bills are generated regarding your injuries and treatment, you should save those documents as well so as to make a claim for out of pocket expenditures at a later date.
• You should keep a log of all events regarding your condition and document any pain and suffering, loss of work, impairment, and/or life impact as it occurs on a daily basis.
• As the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words."  Arrange for photographs to be taken of any cuts, bruises, visible injuries, slings, casts, and/or other devices.
• Similarly,  if you have been injured in a slip and fall, an auto accident, or the like, you should attempt to take pictures of the condition you deem to be responsible as soon as possible.  This will help document the unsafe condition and is especially important in proving the existence of transient hazards such as ice, snow, water, oil, etc.
• If you are inside a premises, be sure to bring the matter to the attention of personnel in charge so they may document your injuries, your potential claim, and the existence of the unsafe condition.  Be sure to point out to the premises owner and/or occupier where you fell or what caused your injury.  Be sure they write it down.  They are obligated to preserve this documentation and it might prove to be extremely important to any lawsuit you might file in the future.
• Be sure to contact Kooi Law Firm, your personal injury specialists as soon as possible to assist in your claim.
• Please keep an accurate record of all time lost from work because of your injuries, including time off to visit doctors and therapists.  Please have your employer send Goodman, Acker, P.C., written confirmation of the amount of wages represented by this time lost.  We require this information even if you are compensated for your lost pay through sick leave or vacation time.
• Similarly, provide us with copies of all your medical, hospital, and/or pharmaceutical bills.  Keep a record of any out-of-pocket expenditures you might have in connection with your accident such as the hiring of extra help around house, mileage, or taxi fare for doctor visits.  All these expenses should be paid by check and you should get a receipt so that there is a paper trail.
• If you have health or medical insurance to cover medical bills, please consult with us prior to submission.