How Can I Strengthen My Car Accident Case?

Car Accident Cases

When you sustain injuries in a car crash caused by someone else’s negligence, you naturally want that other driver’s insurance company to compensate you for your injuries. This is why you hire an experienced local car accident lawyer to represent you in a personal injury lawsuit. However, there are several things you can do yourself to strengthen your case. Here are just a few.

Get Medical Help

Call 911 immediately after your accident and request medical help, even if you don’t think you have sustained serious injuries. You aren’t really in a position to assess your own injuries. For instance, what you may think is a minor bump on your head could be a traumatic brain injury. The sooner the EMTs can assess your injuries and, if necessary, get you to a hospital, the better off you’ll be, both in terms of your health and any subsequent personal injury lawsuit you file.

In addition, continue to receive medical care until you fully recover. Don’t try to tough it out or rely on pain pills, prescriptions or over-the-counter, to ease your pain.

Make a Police Report

When you call 911, also ask the dispatcher to send police officers to the scene. You’ll want to make an official accident report so it will be available to your lawyer. Do not, however, say or indicate that you think you may have caused or partially caused the accident.

Document the Accident

If possible, exchange the following information with all other drivers:

• Name, address and phone number
• Driver’s license state and number
• Insurance company contact information

Also, try to talk with any witnesses and get their names and contact information.

As with the police, say nothing in any of these conversations that indicates you think you may have been at fault for the accident.

Finally, if possible, take pictures of all the vehicles involved in the accident, including yours, making sure to document the following:

• Make, model and color
• License plate state and number
• Indications of prior damage
• Indications of new damage

Stay Off Social Media

Refrain from posting on social media until your lawsuit settles or its trial concludes. Why? Because you may be sure that the other driver’s insurance company will be looking for evidence that you’re not all that badly hurt. In other words, anything you post on social media, text or photos, can potentially be used against you.

By following these guidelines and being fully open and honest with your car accident lawyer, like the attorneys at Tuttle Law, P.A., you can help him or her construct the strongest case possible to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation to which you’re entitled.

A car accident can leave you with terrible injuries and other losses. Treatment for car accident injuries can amount to hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and for many accident victims it can be difficult to cover these costs. If you are seeking the personalized legal services of a car accident lawyer to assist you, you should act quickly because there is limited time to act. An experienced car accident lawyer like one from Greenspan & Greenspan, P.C. can tell you, knowing what to do immediately after a car accident 

Report the Accident

Immediately following a car accident, you may be feeling highly confused and disoriented. If you are in the right condition to do so, report the accident by calling local first responders to the scene. Provide the location of the accident and let them know if there are any injured parties that need urgent assistance. If you do not make any attempt to report the accident if someone has suffered an injury, you may be subject to penalties. In addition to reporting the accident to police, you should also notify your insurance company about it once you are able to. 

Get Medical Attention

Getting medical treatment following a car accident not only protects you, but validates your accident claim. It allows you to understand the full extent of your injuries. With the adrenaline rush you may be going through shortly after an accident, you might not be aware of what injuries you have sustained. It also makes the experience of talking to the insurance company easier if you have a doctor’s report to back up your claim.

Gather Evidence at the Scene

Take as many photos of the accident scene as you can. Photos serve as one of your primary pieces of evidence in a car accident case. Make sure your photos are clear and convey the extent of the damage. Capture the interior of your vehicle, as well as the damage on other vehicles. Make sure to look for key details, such as any debris littering the road. 

Talk to Eyewitnesses

If any eyewitnesses or good samaritans were at the scene, reach out to them and collect their statements and contact information. Accounts from eyewitnesses can support your case because they can capture critical details about how the accident occurred that you may not have noticed. 

Doing the right steps can strengthen your claim and boost your chances of obtaining a fair settlement amount. For more information, request a consultation with a car accident lawyer now.

Knee Pain Doctor

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) treatments are injections used to help stimulate healing through a person’s own blood elements. A doctor draws the patient’s blood, runs it through a centrifuge where the platelets are separated from the rest of the sample.

As a knee pain doctor from a practice like the Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania can explain, these platelets are known for having the capability of releasing healing proteins into the body. The platelets are injected into the injured site by a doctor, with assistance from an ultrasound machine for precision. The proteins released can assist in regeneration of the area, helping alleviate pain and discomfort. Patients may also notice a faster healing rate from PRP treatments. 

Before booking an appointment with a doctor to receive platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections, a patient may want answers to questions like the following: 

How many platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections may I need?

The number of injections a patient may require depends on the condition, severity of injury, and other factors. Your doctor can take into consideration your past and current health to determine how many injections may be most beneficial. In general, about 1-3 injects are needed to see and feel results. 

What conditions can be treated with platelet rich plasma (PRP)?

PRP injections can aid numerous conditions of the lower legs, feet, shoulders, arms, knees and hip. As research continues, there may be other areas of the body that can improve with PRP treatments. Those with any of these conditions may have success when receiving platelet rich plasma injections:

• Lumbar spine disc pain
• Shoulder pain
• Tennis elbow
• Rotator cuff damage
• Hip and hamstring injury
• Ankle sprain
• Patellofemoral syndrome
• Patellar tendonitis
• Achilles tendonitis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Osteoarthritis
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction

Can platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections be an alternative to surgery?

Yes, in some cases PRP injections can be a great option for treatment besides surgery. Patients who prefer a less invasive procedure may appeal to the idea of PRP injections instead. With platelet rich plasma treatments, the recovery period may be faster and overall be less painful than surgery. Anyone interested in trying this type of medical approach, may want to find a reputable doctor in their area who has many years of experience administering platelet solutions. 

Is there any chance that PRP might be painful?

In general, patients can tolerate this injection without pain. What a patient may feel post injection is soreness in the area, when the platelet rich plasma triggers the body’s inflammatory response. Patients can anticipate some tenderness and swelling, but only for the first couple days after the injection is administered. Those who are sensitive to pain may be given a prescription medication to alleviate discomfort. 

Are there patients who may not benefit from PRP treatments?

A doctor may suggest that patients who have been diagnosed with severe anemia, abnormal platelet function, a low platelet count, systemic infection or active cancer do not receive PRP injections. However, it may just be best to consult with a doctor who offers platelet plasma treatments for advice before making any assumptions. 

If you have researched the possibility of beginning treatment with a chiropractor, you probably have encountered some internet sources that make you pause. Maybe it was that wacky video of neck cracking compilations, or maybe it was the internet forum on spine manipulations gone wrong. You can find horror stories on the web for any sort of medical treatment, and chiropractic care is no exception.

Fortunately, there is much more reliable research to indicate that chiropractic care is one of the safest nondrug, noninvasive types of health care for neuromusculoskeletal problems. Here are a few answers that may help you decide if chiropractic treatment is right for you.

Why Are Adjustments Safe?

Nearly all reputable medical organizations recognize that chiropractic treatment is safe when it is performed by a doctor who is trained and licensed to deliver this care. The Mayo Clinic has published extensive research indicating that chiropractic adjustments are safe and effective in addressing pain-related issues like neck pain, lower back pain, and headaches. 

When you are experiencing pain-related health problems, treatment provided by a chiropractor like one from AmeriWell Clinics is far safer than many of the other options for treatment, like injections, medication, or surgery. 

What Type of Training Do Chiropractors Have?

Chiropractors complete some of the most stringent and extensive training of any health care professionals. The standard training includes four to five academic years of professional study after undergraduate work, including a minimum of 4,200 hours of laboratory, clinical, and classroom experience. Chiropractor candidates study orthopedics, physiology, neurology, clinical diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, exercise, nutrition, and more during their course of training at an accredited chiropractic college. 

In order to open a practice, a chiropractor must pass national board examinations and obtain licensure in their state. Depending on the state, a chiropractor needs to complete 20 to 40 course hours of continuing education each year to maintain their license.

Are There Any Risks?

Any medical procedure has risks, including chiropractic treatment. Fortunately, most side effects after adjustments are short-term and mild. These symptoms may include discomfort, fatigue, nausea, or dizziness, and normally last no longer than a day or so. Many patients experience no side effects at all, only relief from pain.

On rare occasions, patients have experienced more serious side effects, such as acute pain, increased spine damage, or a certain rare cause of stroke known as vertebral artery dissection. In many cases, these side effects were experienced by patients with pre-existing conditions or other risk factors. A qualified chiropractor will review your full medical history during intake in order to recognize any health issues that may pose risks to chiropractic treatment.

If you are considering chiropractic care, schedule an initial consultation with a licensed chiropractor in your area who can answer your questions and explore safe and effective treatment options.

When you’re injured while on the road, you might begin to wonder if it qualifies for workers’ compensation. Every situation is different, and you’ll want to speak with the workers’ compensation board in your state to truly understand what you’re entitled to. The following are some scenarios to help you understand.

Injured While Driving Home From Work

In most cases, if you’re injured while driving home from work, you are not entitled to workers’ compensation. You already clocked out, have left the property and are now on your own time. If you drive a company vehicle, however, you might be entitled to workers’ compensation, but only if you go straight from work to home. If you make any stops along the way, it could forfeit your right to compensation.

What if you work remotely? Coverage might depend on your contract and your agreement with your employer. For example, if you are a door-to-door salesman, and your agreement states the work day begins at the first home and ends at the last home, you wouldn’t be entitled to workers’ compensation between the last home you make a call at and your own home. If your agreement states the work day begins as you pull out of your own driveway and ends when you pull back in, you could be entitled to workers’ compensation on your way home.

Injured While at An Out-of-Town Conference

Imagine you have to go out of town to a conference for work. If you’re injured in a car accident, do you receive workers’ compensation? Again, it depends on the specifics of the situation and the agreement you have with your employer. If the conference is three days long, and your accident happens on the second day, you’re probably entitled to coverage.

If your accident happens on day five, it wouldn’t be within the time of the conference, and you probably wouldn’t be entitled to coverage. You most likely extended your stay for personal reasons, making the accident unrelated to your job.

Injured While Running Errands During Your Work Day

Sometimes you have to run errands during the day. Maybe you stop somewhere while on your lunch break, or maybe you take some time off to get those things done. In either case, you’re typically not given workers’ compensation benefits to cover injuries sustained in an accident while running personal errands.

If your errands include picking up paper for the office, you might be entitled to compensation. If you’re doing it as a gift for your boss, you may not have coverage, but if your boss asks you to pick up the paper while you’re out, you probably have coverage.

Getting Your Lawyer on the Case

Workplace accidents can be tricky when they involve car accidents, as a workers compensation lawyer, like from The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt, can explain. Get a workers’ compensation lawyer on the case if you need assistance receiving the compensation you deserve.

The holidays are a great time to get away and enjoy time somewhere new and exciting. Holiday travels often lead to holiday injuries, unfortunately. If you plan to be on the road during the holidays, the following are five tips to help keep you safe.

1. Take Your Car in for an Inspection

Before you hit the road, be sure your car is in the best shape possible. Have a certified mechanic give it a thorough inspection. If you’re going to be driving in weather conditions your car isn’t used to handling, mention that to the mechanic. There’s a possibility you’ll need new tires or something else to ensure safety while driving in unique weather situations.

2. Learn How to Drive in the Snow

If your holiday travels are taking you somewhere it snows but you’re from a very dry climate, you may want to learn how to drive in the snow. For example, do you know if it’s ok to pass a plow truck while he or she is plowing snow and putting down salt? If you slip on ice and start spinning one direction, do you know which direction to turn your steering wheel?

3. Map Your Route

You should always know where you are going and which roads you are going to take. Doing this will help you plan gas refill stops, bathroom breaks, and food stops. You should also have alternate routes planned in case of road construction or other unforeseen circumstances. Give your route to someone back home so if something does happen, that individual will know where to look for you.

4. Take Frequent Stops

It’s important you don’t sit in the car for too long. This can cause circulation problems, but it can also give you a headache, make your back hurt or cause you to fall asleep behind the wheel. You shouldn’t put off a meal and you shouldn’t put off using the restroom — supposing there are facilities you can access on a regular basis. If you’re in the middle of nowhere, it’s still important to stop and stretch your legs every couple hours, which also gives you renewed energy to keep going.

5. Carry a Phone Charger

More than likely, you’ll have a cellphone with you, and possibly a charger you can plug into the car. What happens if your phone has gone dead and your car battery dies? A portable charger is a great tool to carry on any road trip. When you stop to eat, plug it in at the restaurant. When you stop to sleep, plug it in at the hotel.

Receiving the Help You Need

Even after you’ve done everything to stay safe while traveling for the holidays, there’s a possibility you could become injured while on the road. Contact a lawyer, like a personal injury lawyer from Wiseman Bray PLLC, to get the help you need in dealing with such a situation.