The First Steps to Take After an Injury

If you are injured at work, take these immediate steps:

1. If you are injured on the job, follow the employer’s policies and report your injury as soon as possible. Report your injury even if you think it isn’t serious.
2. Keep a record of the date, time, and who you spoke when reporting your injury.
3. If any co-workers witnessed your injury, write names and phone numbers.
4. If you were injured by a defective tool or product at work, take pictures and ask that it be kept in a safe place.
5. Your employer gets to choose the doctor, so ask your employer where to go if you need medical treatment.
6. Make sure you tell the doctor you were injured on the job and details about the each body area that was injured. Take pictures of any visible cuts, lacerations, or bruises and of any casts, braces, or bandages applied.
7. Be sure to ask for a work excuse or restrictions.

If you are involved in a motor vehicle collision, take these immediate steps:

1. Take pictures of the damage to the cars.
2. Keep a copy of the forms the police officer gives you.
3. If you were a passenger in someone else’s car, ask for a copy of any form from the driver.
4. Tell the police officer if you are injured, even if you don’t want an ambulance.
5. Get medical treatment as soon a possible. You may find the pain and discomfort from a motor vehicle collision worsens the night of or the day following a collision. Make sure you tell the doctor you were in a motor vehicle collision and everywhere you were injured.
6. Take pictures of any visible cuts, lacerations, or bruises and any casts, braces, or bandages applied. Be sure to ask for a work excuse or work restrictions. You should always report a collision to your own insurance company. Photograph and document everything as best you can.
7. Ask your insurance agent or company if you have property damage collision coverage or no-fault medpay or personal injury protection coverage.
8. Don’t post anything about your injury on the social web sites
9. Don’t give a recorded statement and don’t sign anything.

Protecting your rights begins the minute an injury occurs. These general rules apply no matter what type of injury you may have suffered.

WHEN SHOULD I TALK TO A LAWYER?

There is no reason to delay talking with a lawyer. At the Steinberg Law Firm there is no charge for an initial consultation to discuss your injury claim. We can take calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All calls are referred to an attorney and will be returned as soon as possible. An attorney will call you to schedule a free consultation at our Goose Creek, Summerville, or downtown Charleston office most convenient for you. The sooner you call, the sooner we can begin helping you with getting your life back.