A Personal Injury Lawyer’s Advice Following a Personal Injury!

From Jim’s perspective…These are tips to help the transition from accident scene to hospital and to home. These are the things that passed through his mind as he was thanking God that the incident was not worse:

1. Bicycle? Wear a helmet. I didn’t hit my head, but the blow that broke my clavicle could have easily killed me or caused major frontal lobe damage.

2. Use the “ICE” code on your cell phone. Instead of listing your spouse or most often called contact on your phone by their name, identify them on your contact list as ICE (in case of emergency). In the event you are unconscious, first responders can dial the ICE number and notify those concerned about your situation. My ICE number goes to the wife, and the call went to voice mail.

3. Carry your business cards. This is for passing out to witnesses in the event there is a dispute as to how the accident happened. I gave my card to several good samaratins who helped take care of me until the ambulance arrived. They contacted me through my card, and I was able to give them my prognosis and thank them for their help.

4. Carry a list of medications. The paramedics kept asking me if I was on any medications like blood thinners. Even though I had no head injury, I could not remember the names of my medications as I was lying on the hot pavement, waiting to be transported to the hospital.

5. Check your automobile liability/UM insurance coverage. In the event my crash had been caused by automobile, California state law mandates that I carry automobile liability coverage in order to maintain a personal injury claim; and if the person causing the collision had no insurance or inadequate insurance, the UM coverage would kick in. Contact Lou Grimaldi of State Farm for a policy review.

6. Carry a business card or contact number for your personal doctor. I was able to immediately call Dr. Michael Barri to discuss my symptoms and arrange an appointment the next day as opposed to being referred to a list of unknown doctors from the hospital.

7. Don’t drink and drive. I quit drinking back in December 2008, save for red wine at dinner, so when the paramedics asked if I had been drinking, I was able to truthfully and proudly, say: “NO.” Had I smelled of alcohol, I suspect the firemen, EMTs and ambulance staff would not have been so friendly.

8. Get personal disability insurance. A little more damage and I would been temporarily totally disabled with no way to pay for home and office overhead, much less the out of pocket medical expenses incurred. Call Julie Prosa, ProCal Insurance for disability insurance quotes.

And if you find yourself in a similar situation, contact THE HARMON FIRM - Serving Southern California with over 50 years of combined experience in personal injury claims.

Contact Info:
714-558-9729
http://theharmonfirm.com
Info@theharmonfirm.com