Elmira Personal Injury Lawyer

Perhaps a badly designed product caused your injury, or you were the victim of medical malpractice. Maybe a drunk driver hit you, or you fell and hurt yourself badly because a property owner did not maintain their premises. No matter the reason, the bottom line is that you were injured because of another party’s irresponsibility or negligence. You need a personal injury lawyer to protect your rights and fight to make sure the party responsible for your injuries is held accountable.

The Elmira personal injury lawyers of Douglas & London can help you get the maximum compensation for your injuries. While most cases are settled, we do not hesitate to go to trial, if necessary.

What to do after an injury

When a person suffers a severe injury, there is likely not much they can do directly afterward except wait for an ambulance to take them to the emergency room. However, if the injured party is still conscious and has the ability, he or she should take photos or videos of the accident scene with their smartphone. If there are witnesses, get their names and contact information. Write down or record exactly what happened for your own purposes immediately afterward. 

If the injured person is not capable of recording the scene, a relative or friend should do so as soon as possible. With slip and fall injuries due to ice or snow, the conditions can change very quickly, so it is critical to gather evidence at the scene before it disappears.

If hurt, do not wait to seek medical attention. Go to the emergency room or your doctor right away. Failure to seek prompt medical attention can mean the responsible party’s insurance company may argue the injuries were not that serious or they did not occur due to their client’s actions or inactions.

What not to do after an injury

In many circumstances, the injured person is contacted by the at-fault party’s insurance company soon after the incident. Do not give the insurer a statement before speaking with a personal injury lawyer. The insurer will look for anything that can be used against you, and an innocuous statement may become twisted.

Never agree to any settlement amount, even if it seems generous, without consulting an attorney. Personal injury lawyers know the fair amount of a settlement for each client, and what seems like a good settlement on its face may not prove substantial enough to take care of future medical and other needs. Once an accident victim agrees to a settlement amount with an insurer, any negotiations are over. Keep in mind it is the insurance adjuster’s job to keep a settlement offer as low as possible, and they will try to take advantage of you.

Contact Elmira personal injury lawyers

If you or a loved suffer a personal injury because of another party’s negligence or recklessness, you need the services of an experienced personal injury attorney at Douglas & London. Call 24/7 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win. Our attorneys have recovered more than $18 billion in settlements and verdicts for our clients.