Thursday, June 14, 2007

Five Things Your Boston Personal Injury Lawyer Will Tell You

by Steve Smith


If you've had some kind of slip and fall accident in Boston, person injury lawyers can certainly help you get the damages you deserve. But these kinds of accidents, whether you've slipped in a restaurant, fallen on a damaged sidewalk or taken a tumble down some rickety stairs, can be difficult to prove unless you have solid evidence.

That's why we've put together some information from some of the best Boston personal injury attorneys available that you should keep in mind any time you are injured and know that you may have to try and collect damages or medical expenses from an individual or company. Any time you are injured, keep these steps in mind to help your attorney get the best possible outcome for you.

1. Notify the proper people. Any time you are injured you need to make sure you've notified the proper person, whether it is the manager of an establishment or the owner of a house or property. If it is a business, ask them to assist you in filling out an incident report. In most cases they will be willing to do this for their own protection as well as yours. Be sure it includes information on what happened, the conditions that contributed (a wet floor without a sign, loose floorboards, ice, etc.) and what might be wrong with you - but note that you are seeking medical treatment.

2. Seek medical treatment immediately. Every Boston personal injury attorney worth his or her salt will tell you that there are two reasons to go immediately to a medical center, doctor's office or emergency room. The first and most important is to make sure you haven't sustained a hidden injury - your health is always the most important issue. Second, the medical records will be essential if you do end up filing a claim because they will indicate the extent of your injuries and their connection to the incident.

3. Get witness information. Obviously if you are seriously injured your first priority should be to get medical attention, but if someone is with you ask them to talk to anyone who saw what happened or who came to your aid. Get their names, addresses and phone numbers. These people will be an invaluable witness to what transpired and will reinforce your case in the event the other party disputes liability.

4. Get photographs. In today's era of cell phone cameras it's a simple thing to snap a quick picture of the area where you slipped and fell if it is something the other party can easily remedy (spilled water, etc.). Your Boston personal injury lawyer will tell you that a series (3-5) of photos of the area on a digital camera will be even better if you have a trusted family member who can return quickly to the site for situations like dangerous pavement, etc. that can't be easily disguised or fixed.

5. Contact an attorney right away. The longer you wait, the hazier your memory (and the memory of witnesses) of the events will be, making a claim more difficult. In Boston, personal injury lawyers often have phone numbers that answer twenty-four hours a day or they will return messages within that time.

In a perfect world, you will never have to file a claim against someone because you are injured. It isn't a perfect world, and an injury can be costly both financially and emotionally. Be careful, be aware and be sure to get a Boston personal injury attorney to help you get everything you deserve.


About the Author
Steve Smith is a freelance writer. For instance, if you reside in Boston, you will want to get in touch with a personal injury attorney . You might also consider hiring a lawyer if your case has to go through an appeals process. Again, if you live in Boston, you should be talking to personal injury attorney throughout the claim process.

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Five Things Your Boston Personal Injury Lawyer Will Tell You

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