What to Do After a Boating Accident in California
Summer is here, which means it’s time to hit one of California’s many lakes, rivers or beaches—but what happens if you’re injured in a boating accident? If you were injured in a boating accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, you should call a boating accident attorney right away. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills and other associated costs.
Here’s what you need to do after you’ve been in a boating accident in California.
Seek medical help right away
Even if you think you’ve walked away without a scratch, you might be more badly injured than you believe. It’s crucial that you go to a doctor as soon as possible after a boating accident—within the first three days, at the latest.
When you’re in an accident, your body may go into shock. This produces large amounts of adrenaline and can make you feel as though you are physically fine. Hours or days later, the true extent of your injuries becomes obvious. What’s more, if you fail to see a doctor within the first few days, the defense attorneys may argue that your injuries couldn’t have been that serious. That can damage your case significantly.
Call an attorney
Next, you’ll want to call a personal injury attorney that deals with boating accidents, such as the Law Offices of Max G. Arnold, Inc. Talking to an attorney can help you determine whether you have a strong case, what the likelihood of recovering compensation may be and any other factors that could have an impact. It’s always worth calling a lawyer.
Preserve records
After you’ve seen a doctor and have talked to a boating accident attorney, you’ll want to keep good records of your expenses, pain and suffering. For example, make sure that you get a copy of your medical records and each bill. If you have been out of work thanks to your injuries, consider asking your boss to put that—and the reason why—in writing. (Your attorney will give you specific guidance when you work with them.)
If you have particularly persistent injuries, your attorney may advise you to keep a pain or recovery journal. Each day, you should write down the tasks you tried to complete, prescriptions you’ve taken, medical advice you’ve followed and how well it worked out. If you notice new, increased or additional pain, that’s particularly important. Similarly, if your pain is starting to recede thanks to medical intervention, you should make a note of that.
A pain journal is useful if your attorney needs to show an insurance company, judge or jury how difficult it has been for you to recover from your injuries. A broken leg might seem difficult but not unusual to some people—but if it causes you to miss work due to severe pain, that could be a different story.
For more information about what to do after a California boating accident, call the Law Offices of Max G. Arnold, Inc. today to arrange a consultation.
Categorised in: Personal Injury Lawyer