When most people leave their homes to go somewhere, few expect to be in a car accident. Unfortunately, car accidents happen all too often. While most people understand that driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is dangerous, many do not think twice about texting or talking on the phone while they are behind the wheel of their car or truck. It has been estimated that engaging in these activities can increase the likelihood of being in an accident by at least a factor of three. Distracted driving accidents are in the rise throughout the United States as are accidents caused by fatigued driving. Despite this, at any given daylight minute, there are about 660,000 people driving around doing something that takes their attention away from the road, according to experts and personal injury attorneys. If you have been in an accident that you did not cause, there are some things you need to do to get the settlement you need and deserve.

1. Get medical help. You need to receive treatment for your injuries. All good car accident law firms will tell you that the courts do not look kindly on people who do not seek out prompt treatment for their injuries. This can make it look like you are trying to make your injuries look worse than they are to get more money. Your medical team will be able to do more to help you when you seek out their help sooner than later.
2. Call law enforcement. The other driver may not want t get the police involved but the report they file can do a lot to help you with your case. If the other person has been found to be under the influence of anything and they are arrested, that will help your case. Your personal injury attorney will want any documentation from the law enforcement agency that arrives at the scene.
3. Get as much information as you can. Talk to witnesses. Get their information. Your personal injury lawyer may want to talk to them later. Take photos and video, You can do this with your smart phone. People do not realize how often they are photographed or are caught on video. If the accident took place near any security cameras, check to see if you can get your hands on the footage. That camera may have caught your accident.
4. Keep your own records. You should talk to the medical people who are treating you and let them know about your legal situation, they can give you their repots about your treatment plan and your progress. Keep any receipts. If you take a taxi, Uber or pay for copayments and prescriptions, you should keep all of the receipts. It is also a good idea to maintain a journal of your thoughts and experiences. When you are going through it, you may think that you will never forget the experience but the brain is funny that way. You will forget. Keeping a thorough journal can make a real difference.
5. Hire the right personal injury attorney. Like medical professionals, lawyers specialize, You need to talk to at least three law firms to get the one that can do the most to help you. You need to talk to someone who has a decent amount of experience dealing with cases that are similar to yours. Law firms all offer free first consultations with prospective clients. Take advantage of this to get in and interview at least several personal injury law firms. Get all of your questions answered. Any law practice that will not take the time to answer your questions before you hire them will not do so after you become an official client.

At least 32,675 people were killed in car accidents in 2014. During that year, there were 90 deaths a day that were caused by these accidents. At least 6,4000 people were hurt in these accidents every day throughout that year. If you are in one of these accidents, if you follow these steps, you will do a lot to help your personal injury attorney get you what you need and deserve to get your life back.

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