The first and most important thing is your health.
Go see your family doctor right away, even if you think you’re fine. Adrenaline masks pain and can be your best friend in the moment, but your worst enemy for disguising how badly you’ve been injured. It can take hours, days, or even weeks to realize the severity of your injuries and serious internal injuries are often silent. Don’t have a family doctor? Find one located near you at Alberta Find a Doctor. Not only will your doctor get you back on the road to better health, they will also write reports and take notes which can be used as evidence for getting you the compensation you deserve. The longer you wait to see your doctor, the more difficult it can be to prove the cause and severity of your injuries.
Collecting information and gathering evidence
Depending on the type of accident you were in, you may have been able to exchange insurance information, take photographs, talk to eyewitnesses, and file a police report. If you weren’t able to collect any evidence at the time of your accident, that’s okay too. It is very common to be in shock or physically unable to gather any information at the scene of an accident. The good news is that Personal Injury lawyers are skilled at gathering evidence after the fact. The sooner you talk to an accident injury lawyer, the better. It is a lot easier to collect evidence and locate witnesses in the days and weeks following an accident, while memories are clear. But if you’re reading this and it’s been a few months (or even years) since your injury, there’s still hope. Talk to a lawyer to find out if you can still make a claim.
Injured in a Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA)? Contact YOUR insurance company.
It is important to get in touch with your insurance company right away to report the collision and get access to any benefits you are entitled to, regardless of who is at fault. There are important deadlines which, if missed, may give your insurance company the opportunity to deny you certain benefits. Be aware that the at-fault driver’s insurance company will also likely contact you in the hopes of settling your claim quickly and for the lowest amount possible. Don’t let ‘em rattle you – you are under no legal obligation to speak to their insurance adjusters. Prior to talking with anyone from the insurance company of the person who injured you, contact a Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) lawyer first to find out what benefits and compensation you’re entitled to.
Next stop? Your lawyer.
Make sure you choose a lawyer who has an in-depth understanding of Personal Injury claims. While your good friend from college who specializes in corporate law might be an excellent lawyer, that doesn’t necessarily mean they have experience with accident claims. Even if you don’t make a claim, by speaking with a Personal Injury lawyer you may find out that you are entitled to accident benefits and compensation for lost wages, medical bills, physical therapy, loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, or disability. Sadly, thousands of injured Albertans never know that these resources are even available, and this additional support can make all the difference.
In Alberta, you generally have up to two years from the date of your accident to make a claim in court, or your right to do so is lost forever. It’s important not to wait, as there may be other important deadlines or circumstances that may affect the deadline of your claim. If you have any questions about the limitation period for your claim, call or email us for a free consultation with one of our Personal Injury Lawyers today.
At Litco Law, it won’t cost you anything to speak with a lawyer.
If you choose to pursue a claim, we’ll cover all the costs of collecting evidence until your case is resolved, meaning we don’t get paid until you get paid. If we don’t recover money for you, you won’t owe us anything. We’ll handle the insurance companies and the legal work, so that you can focus on your healing and getting back to better.
We’re here, for you.
Whether you slipped and fell on your neighbor’s icy sidewalk or were injured by a reckless motorboat driver, or anything in-between, you may be eligible to make a claim. As Alberta’s Personal Injury law firm since 1976, voted Calgary’s Top Choice Personal Injury Law Firm by our clients for seven years in a row, we have an outstanding track record of getting injured Albertans the compensation they deserve. At Litco Law, we have a team that truly cares and understands what you are going through. If there’s anything we can do to make your life a little (or a lot) easier, we’ll do it.
Have questions? Wondering where you can get free legal answers? Call or email us today, or send us a message in the chat. You’ll always hear back from us within 24 hours during the week, or next business day on weekends. And if you do choose us, you get a caring legal team that is standing by, ready to go the extra mile.
