What Should I Do After a Catastrophic Injury?

The first priority after any catastrophic injury is medical care. Get to a hospital, follow your treating physicians’ instructions, and keep every appointment. Beyond medical care, document everything you can, including photographs of the scene, the vehicles or equipment involved, your injuries, and any property damage. Keep every record, bill, and piece of correspondence. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company, including your own, before speaking with a lawyer. Do not sign any documents or releases sent to you by an insurance company or its representatives. Do not accept an early settlement offer, no matter how reasonable it seems, until you have had the case evaluated by counsel. Contact a lawyer as soon as you are physically able. The decisions made in the first days and weeks after a catastrophic injury can affect the case for years afterward.