What To Do When You Get Into An Accident – Legal
What To Do When You Get Into An Accident
Paul Hood
Accidents are unexpected occurrences in life. These are traumatic events that nobody wants to encounter. Because of the shock an accident causes, people tend to lose their ability to think correctly resulting to serious injuries, even death, to himself or to another party.
How can we overcome shock during or after an accident Presence of mind is very vital in situations like this.
There are several kinds of accidents. Examples are vehicular accidents, industrial accidents and aerial accidents. Different accidents need different approach.
Car accident is an example of vehicular accidents, which claimed millions of lives and caused many people to suffer. Damages a car accident can cause include disability, emotional distress and permanent disfigurement. A lot of victims endure from injuries such as broken bone injuries, scar injuries, head and neck injuries, and nerve damage.
We cannot do much during an accident because it happens so fast that we are not able to control it. What is important is that we have to learn how we should behave after the incident and what actions we have to take. It will be hard for an injured person to think of the people or things around him. His only concern is the pain that he is feeling. In situations wherein you are still able to talk, walk and move without difficulty, you might as well do the following steps.
Ask or know the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the individuals involved in an accident. Car owners involved must secure car insurance. If there are witnesses in the area, ask for their names, addresses, and telephone numbers, too. Assist the police with the investigation, be cooperative. Take note of important visual information, like scratches and marks on the car and the weather condition. If you do not have pen or any writing materials, review the scene in your mind so that you can remember it. You have to tell the police exactly what happened. Take pictures of the cars involved in the accident. The picture must tell a detailed story. If you feel any pain or discomfort after the accident, consult a physician right away, or else it will raise questions whether the injury was caused by the accident or not. Consult an attorney before filling out any documents or giving your statement. Photograph wounds that heal quickly, you might need it during a case hearing or investigation. You might also need a lawyer to assist you in filling important papers, assist in court proceedings, and getting your claims.
About The Author
Ariel Velasco goes by the author alias of Paul Hood. This author is into books and writing. Reading is an essential part of his life and this has lent a considerable influence in his writing. Well traveled and would always want to travel more. He loves learning more about people and their ways. Took up a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology to further this fascination and had a fulfilling educational experience having been exposed to a wide spectrum of people. Always ready for new opportunities to learn and have a great deal of interest in different fields of expertise.
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Should You Hire An Accident Attorney – Legal
Should You Hire An Accident Attorney
David G. Hallstrom
The following article was written for Resources For Attorneys.com by David Hallstrom, a private investigator, he is not now nor has he ever been an attorney.
You have been in a accident, automobile, slip and fall, workplace, etc.. Should you see or speak with an attorney
As far as I am concerned, the answer is always yes.
When should you consult with an accident attorney You should seek the advise of an accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident. Do not wait. You could be giving up certain rights. You should definetly speak with an attorney before speaking with the other sides insurance agent, adjuster or attorney.
You say that you can not afford an attorney. Most accident attorneys will consult with you for free and, if they take your case, will handle it on a contingency basis, not taking any fee untill the case is settled. Most settlements are increased to cover the cost of the attorney and therefore normally the attorney costs you nothing. Many attorneys will also advance all court costs for you if they are forced to file suit.
You say that you were injured, however, the insurance company has offered to pay your medical bills and you do not feel it is right to take advantage of them by asking for additional money for your, pain, suffering, lost work, etc.. Dont you feel that you as a person are worth something Do you think so little of yourself that you feel that your pain, suffering, inconvience, etc. is worthless. You did not cause this accident. What you are going through was caused by someone else. You deserve to be compensated. The insurance company, as a matter of good business, has already built these types of costs into the premiums that they charge their customers. If the money does not go to you it will probably go to their shareholders or to increased salaries or . Why shouldnt you be properly compensated. Remember most good attorneys are ethical and although they will attempt to obtain as much money for you as is due, they will not take your case unless they feel that it is proper.
You say someone else admitted liability and said that their insurance will pay all your damages. Thats great, however, what if the person changes his or her story later on and says that you were at fault. Or what if the other sides insurance company refuses to pay what you think is proper. In fact, how do you know what is proper Remember, an insurance company may pay claims, but it is in business to make money. It normally will not offer one dollar more than it has to and if you are not represented by an attorney the insurance company adjuster or attorney may feel that he or she can "get away" with paying much less than the claim may be worth. Additionally, what people state at the time of an accident is not always what they state after having spoken with a friend, insurance agent or attorney. Finally, an insurance adjuster or insurance attorney works for the insurance company, not for you. How do you know that what they are telling you is correct or true. Remember, in most instances, they are there to try and save the company money. You need an attorney on your side to tell you what your rights and obligations are.
You say that you were not hurt that bad or at all. How do you know how badly you were hurt. Some injuries do not show up for months. Other injuries may aggrivate a prior problem. Even if you have been found to be "ok" by a doctor, how do you know that a problem will not come up later. If you have insurance and did go to a doctor, who is going to pay your co-pay or deductible. If you do not have health insurance, who is going to pay for your examination which should include xrays, etc.. If you retain an attorney he or she can probably refer you to a doctor who will accept a lien against the insurance settlement, thereby saving you from paying money out of your pocket.
You say you have accident insurance, why not let them handle everthing for you. Your insurance company is there to defend any claims against you not to represent you in any claims against other parties. Additionally, they also are in business to make money. How do you know if they are trying to settle a case to help you or to save themselves money.
The foregoing article was written by the author based on experiences he has had as a private investigator representing both accident attorneys and insurance companies. This article is not stated as a legal opinion or as fact but instead is stated as opinion of the author.
Permission is given to reprint this article providing credit is given to the author, David G. Hallstrom, and a link is listed to Resources For Attorneys the owner of this article. Anyone or any company reprinting this article without giving proper credit and the correct link, is doing so without permission and will be subject to legal action.
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About The Author
David Hallstrom has been a licensed private investigator for over thirty years. The majority, over 2000, of his clients are attorneys. He is also the President of Resources For Attorneys.com, a legal and lifestyle resource directory for attorneys, lawyers and the internet public.
Coping With an Unplanned Pregnancy – Pregnancy
Coping With an Unplanned Pregnancy
Patty Hone
Your period is late and you start to think maybe you might be pregnant. Maybe you are afraid to go take a test because you dont want to find out the results. You may be asking yourself "how could this happen" If you find yourself pregnant with an unplanned pregnancy all kinds of emotions may run through your mind. Perhaps you are secretly excited about this but scared to tell your husband. Maybe you are not married and scared about facing motherhood alone. Maybe you do not want any more children and the prospect of having another baby is the worst thing you could imagine right now. There are many scenarios that lead up to unplanned pregnancies. Mistakes in judgment happen, condoms break, birth control pills fail, even tubal ligations and vasectomies fail.
Once you get over the initial shock of finding out that you are pregnant you will have some tough decisions to face. Do you want to carry this pregnancy, how are you going to tell your friends and family, how are you going to handle the emotions and pressures that people will put on you. The first thing you should do is try not to panic. Although this may seem like an extreme emergency, in reality you have time to make a decision. Try to take some time to collect yourself and think about your options. You will not be the first mom to not be excited about the news of a new baby. Try not to beat yourself up. Take responsibility for your actions but wallowing in guilt is not going to help the situation. Before you talk to anyone about your decision take some time to decide what you want to do. If you want to keep this baby, have an abortion, or consider an adoption that is your decision and talking to someone about the situation may cloud your judgment. Yes your partner should probably be involved in the decision-making, ultimately; you are the one that is going to have to live with your choices. Try to make some plans in your head for what you would like to do before you talk to anyone.
After you have had time to think about things and to collect yourself, you may want to get some counsel from friends, family or maybe a minister. Find someone that you know will be supportive of your decision to confide in. You need to have support during this time. You dont want to be surrounded by people that are going to beat you down for your mistake or pressure you into doing what they want. Surround yourself with a support group. If you have no one to turn to you can seek help from support groups geared for this situation. If you do not plan to have an abortion, you may want to steer away from groups that endorse this and perhaps find a faith based support group.
Eventually you are going to have to tell some people. You dont have to tell everyone and you can tell people about this in your own time. Your partner may not be the first person you want to tell and thats okay. When you are ready find a time to sit down and talk to him. The longer you go without telling him the harder it will be. Sometimes it is easier to tell him earlier and let him adjust to the situation than it is to wait and have him angry for not telling him sooner. Either way if you think that he will be unhappy it is going to be hard to tell him the news. Prepare yourself for the reactions and when you are ready just tell him. There are no right words to say. Try to avoid blaming or taking the blame. This situation doesnt happen with only one person involved. It is not all your fault or all his fault. It is a shared responsibility that the two of you will have to deal with.
If your partner, friends and family are not initially supportive thats okay. It is not their life or their pregnancy. They are not the ones who have to live with your decision. You are. Try not to let unwanted comments get to you. You can use humor to lighten the mood. If you are excited about this and they are not, then share your excitement. You can use I statements to let them know how you feel. If others fail to respect your decision and do not have anything positive to offer, you might want to simply explain that the discussion is off limits and refuse to talk about it with them. Whatever your choice may be, in the end it is your decision.
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About The Author
Patty Hone is a wife and mommy to three kids. She is also the owner of Justmommies.com. Justmommies is an online community for mommies to make friends and find support. Please visit Justmommies at http://www.justmommies.com
email@justmommies.com