Perna and Abracht is a full service law firm helping clients in the areas of Business law, Family law, Divorce, Personal Injury, Estate Planning and Administration, Workman's Compensation and Real Estate.

Perna and Abracht is a full service law firm helping clients in the areas of Business law, Family law, Divorce, Personal Injury, Estate Planning and Administration, Workman's Compensation and Real Estate.

Perna and Abracht is a full service law firm helping clients in the areas of Business law, Family law, Divorce, Personal Injury, Estate Planning and Administration, Workman's Compensation and Real Estate.

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Showing posts with label personal injury attorney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label personal injury attorney. Show all posts

Monday, June 26, 2023

Medical Negligence vs. Medical Malpractice: Understanding the Legal Difference

Pennsylvania medical malpractice laws

Cases involving medical malpractice or medical negligence are complex. Although they are often used interchangeably, it can be challenging to understand the nuances between the two. If you’ve been harmed by a medical professional or institution, consulting with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer can help you understand how Pennsylvania medical malpractice laws may impact your case.

What is Medical Negligence?

Medical negligence occurs when a healthcare provider fails to provide the level of care that a fellow medical professional would in similar circumstances.  In other words, if a healthcare provider’s unintentional error or inaction led to injury or harm, it would be considered medical negligence. The four key elements of proving negligence include:

Duty of Care – The healthcare provided a duty of care to the patient

Breach of Duty – The healthcare professional breached their duty of care by not meeting the standard of care the provider breached the duty of care by failing to meet the standard of care within their field

Causation – The provider’s breach of duty caused injury or harm to the patient

Damages – The patient suffered damages such as additional medical bills, wage loss, physical injury, and emotional distress

The best malpractice attorneys understand how to investigate medical negligence claims and put all the evidence together to prove negligence.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice includes the elements of medical negligence with one significant difference – in a medical malpractice case, you must show that the medical provider’s or institution’s actions were intentionally reckless. In simpler terms, when a medical provider knows better, but still makes a poor decision or provides subpar treatment, it may be considered malpractice. Some examples of medical malpractice and/or negligence include delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, improper treatment, and surgical errors.

In medical malpractice cases, an injured party (plaintiff) must present expert testimony from a qualified medical professional. Their testimony is vital to demonstrate the standard of care that the negligent healthcare provider (defendant) should have followed and how they deviated from that standard.

How a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Can Help You Understand Your Options

The distinctions between medical malpractice and medical negligence can be challenging to grasp if you are unfamiliar with the law. Although you may be able to pursue compensation for medical negligence or malpractice, the legal strategies your medical malpractice attorney employs will differ. Suppose you have lost a loved one due to the negligence or carelessness of a medical professional or institution. In that case, your attorney may be able to help you file a wrongful death claim against the responsible parties.

There is a specific process for pursuing medical malpractice claims, so it is critical to seek the counsel of a personal injury attorney who has experience handling medical malpractice and negligence claims. In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit is two years from when the error or injury was first discovered or should have been discovered, so it is important to act fast. These time limits vary by jurisdiction and there are exceptions, depending on the specific circumstances. 

Do you need assistance with a negligence or malpractice claim? Contact our personal injury lawyers today at Perna & Abracht, LLC for a free consultation today. Our team includes some of the best medical malpractice lawyers in Pennsylvania.

This blog was originally posted on https://pa4law.com/medical-negligence-vs-medical-malpractice-understanding-the-legal-difference/

Thursday, October 14, 2021

How Do Pre-existing Conditions Affect Personal Injury Claims?

How Do Pre-existing Conditions Affect Personal Injury Claims?

Many people suffer from illnesses and injuries throughout their lifetimes, and pre-existing conditions can play a major role in some personal injury cases. Typically, an injured victim cannot recover compensation for underlying conditions that were not caused by an accident, but they are entitled to compensation if those pre-existing conditions were made worse by the accident. The best accident attorneys always advise clients to disclose any pre-existing conditions to ensure they have all the information they need to build a solid personal injury case. 

Why Your Attorney Needs To Know About Pre-Existing Conditions

Informing your attorney of any pre-existing physical injuries or mental health conditions such as anxiety, PTSD, or depression is critical to establishing whether or not an accident caused the conditions to worsen. When you file a personal injury claim, insurance companies will scrutinize your medical history for the purpose of blaming your current injuries on a pre-existing injury or medical issue, regardless of how minor the pre-existing condition may be. A good injury lawyer will establish the degree to which an accident aggravated a pre-existing problem and/or caused new and distinct injuries. This is a critical element when determining the amount of compensation you may be able to pursue in a personal injury claim. 

Failing to Disclose a Pre-Existing Condition Can Jeopardize Your Claim

When discussing your medical history with your lawyer, it is essential not to hold anything back. For example, you may consider a childhood injury like a broken wrist irrelevant. It may not be – leave it up to your attorney to determine how it could affect your claim. 

Detailed medical records documenting your pre-existing health issues are critical to establishing their severity and how they affected your life before, and how the injuries you sustained recently have made these pre-existing issues worse.. Seeking medical care as soon as possible after an accident can actually help prove how recent injuries may have worsened an old injury or condition. 

Forgetting or deliberately failing to disclose a pre-existing condition could hurt your credibility, affect your chances of recovering compensation, and may even result in an insurer taking legal action against you if an omission is discovered later.  

A Pre-Existing Condition Won’t Always Prevent You from Recovering Compensation

Some victims who are already living with an injury may be hesitant to file an accident claim because they think their pre-existing condition will prevent them from recovering any compensation. This is simply untrue – again, leave it up to an experienced attorney to determine whether or not a claim is worth pursuing. Even if your pre-existing condition means you may not recover as much compensation as you would have without it, if someone else was responsible for causing new injuries or worsening old injuries, you deserve to be compensated for your damages. 

Scheduling a case evaluation with a personal injury lawyer can’t hurt – your initial consultation is free. Top car accident lawyers will thoroughly assess your case, review your complete medical history, and advise you of all the options that may be available to you.

Personal injury claims are complex, and pre-existing conditions can make it even more difficult to recover the full and fair compensation you need. Contact a personal injury attorney today to learn more. 

Thursday, October 7, 2021

3 Elements of Product Liability Claims

3 Elements of Product Liability Claims

Whether it’s their vehicle or headache medicine, most consumers typically assume that the products they use are safe. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. When someone suffers an injury caused by a product, they may have recourse for recovering compensation for any damages caused. If you or a loved one has been hurt by a product you’ve used, talking with a good injury lawyer is critical to understanding your options. 

Factors Considered in Product Liability Claims
Negligence is a major element in any personal injury claim. However, there are three specific factors that are usually considered in product liability claims, including:
Manufacturing defects
Design defects
Failure to warn

Manufacturing Defects
When a product is improperly manufactured and causes harm, manufacturers may be held liable. Sadly, manufacturers sometimes put cost and speed of production above safety. Incorrect assembly, faulty installation of wiring and circuitry, and use of wrong materials to construct a product are just a few examples of manufacturing defects. Top car accident lawyers have litigated many cases involving manufacturing defects such as brake failure, unintended acceleration, and improperly deployed airbags. 

Design Defects
Design defects typically happen during the development of a product. Design defects can involve a product causing harm when being used correctly, or when harmful materials are utilized to make a product. Examples include designing top-heavy SUVs that increase the risk of rollover when making sharp turns at high speeds, or creating children’s toys that pose a choking hazard. 

Failure to Warn
Products that have the potential to be dangerous must have adequate warnings to help consumers use them properly and avoid being injured. For instance, a tool such as a chainsaw should have instructions for proper use and warnings about any potential hazards. Even if hazards are evident, consumers should be informed that failure to use a product as it is intended could lead to serious harm.  If there is no warning included and someone gets hurt, the manufacturer may be liable. 

Proving Product Liability Claims
For a viable product liability claim, it is not enough to simply demonstrate that a product is defective. Your attorney must prove that you were injured due to the defect while using the product as intended. If you were using it in an inappropriate way when injured, you may not be entitled to compensation. You also must demonstrate that you suffered losses due to your injuries, such as medical bills, wage loss, pain and suffering, and other damages. 

Sufficient Evidence is Key
Product liability claims can be extremely complex, especially when they involve products such as pharmaceuticals or dangerous chemicals. To prove product liability, the best accident lawyers utilize evidence such as:
The actual defective product
Product design plans
Evidence of designer or manufacturer knowledge of the defect, which may include notes, designs, emails, and other internal or external correspondence
Medical records
Medical bills 
Proof of income, such as pay stubs and W-2s
Photos of  the defects and consequent injuries
Accident reports
Witness testimony
Expert witness testimony
Labels, instructions, and warnings
Marketing materials 

Your lawyer also will collect any other relevant evidence and put it all together to demonstrate that you were harmed by a defective product, and that you suffered injuries and loses. 

Contact a personal injury attorney to learn more about product liability claims.

Saturday, August 14, 2021

How to Prove a Distracted Driver Caused a Car Accident

personal injury attorney

Distracted driving is a growing problem in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driver distraction took 3,142 lives in 2019 alone. If you have been involved in an accident you believe was caused by a distracted driver, there are steps you can take to protect your rights. Learning how a personal injury attorney will investigate these claims can help you understand the process and make informed decisions about the options that may be available for recovering compensation. 

Types of Distracted Driving
Although texting and talking on the phone are two of the most common types of driver distraction, eating, drinking, putting on makeup, talking with passengers, adjusting controls, and dealing with kids or pets in the backseat are also considered distractions that can cause an accident. There are many different types of evidence that can help prove distracted driving. Top accident attorneys know how to put them all together to create cohesive cases that prove a distracted driver was at fault. 

Analyzing the Scene of the Accident
Photographs, traffic and surveillance cameras, and other tools can help investigators piece together how an accident occurred. Skid marks and damage to vehicles, guardrails, and traffic signs can tell a story as well. Personal injury lawyers often employ car crash reconstructionists who examine evidence from the scene to determine whether a driver’s attention was diverted when an accident happened. These car accident experts provide critical testimony that can provide convincing evidence to support a claim. 

Cell Phone Data and Records
Cell phone records are one of the most valuable tools when it comes to proving distracted driving behaviors such as texting or talking on the phone. A lawyer can subpoena a driver’s cell phone data and records to determine whether they were texting, checking email, or using a device for GPS or other purposes while driving. 

Eyewitness Statements
If another driver, passenger, pedestrian, or bystander noticed that a driver was distracted at the time of a collision, their statements or testimony also can help prove your case. If you are involved in an accident, obtaining witness statements and contact information at the scene can add another layer of evidence that your car crash injury lawyer can use to help prove your case. 

Police Reports 
It is critical to call 911 or local law enforcement after a crash. Police scrutinize the scene and collect evidence to try and determine the circumstances of a crash and who may be at fault. They also collect the statements of the other driver, passengers, and witnesses to document what happened. Police reports and law enforcement testimony can provide important information that helps to confirm that a driver was distracted or exhibiting other dangerous behaviors when an accident occurred. 

How an Attorney Can Help
In addition to building a case that proves your distracted driving claim, your car accident attorney can aggressively negotiate on your behalf and help you recover maximum compensation for damages such as pain and suffering, medical expenses, wage loss, emotional distress, and other damages. 

Contact a personal injury attorney to learn more about distracted driving accident claims.

Saturday, August 7, 2021

How Personal Injury Lawyers Determine Future Losses after Catastrophic Injury

personal injury lawyer

Catastrophic injuries often cause permanent disability and leave victims unable to work and do things they used to love. Determining future losses after a catastrophic injury can be challenging. Knowing the factors your personal injury lawyer takes into account when calculating these losses can give you peace of mind and help you better understand the long-term impact an injury can have on your life. 

What Is A Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury is an injury so severe that it leaves a victim with permanent damage. Spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and amputations are examples of catastrophic injuries, and can have significant long-term effects on a person’s ability to function. In fact, any debilitating injury that takes away someone’s mobility, cognitive function, or leads to disfigurement has a serious impact on the whole family’s quality of life. Although no amount of money can change what happened, victims of catastrophic injury caused by negligence need—and deserve—full and fair compensation to help them get the ongoing care they need and maintain financial security.  

How Are Future Losses Calculated?
Many catastrophic injuries require costly ongoing medical treatment and therapy. In addition to affecting an injured victim’s physical health, these types of injuries affect their relationships, social life, mental health, ability to make a living, and myriad aspects of daily life. A good accident injury lawyer will know what factors to consider and how to determine the long-term financial, physical, and emotional costs of your injury. 

Some factors that are usually considered when valuing a catastrophic injury claim include:
Tangible future costs. Personal injury lawyers consult with medical professionals, therapists, forensic accountants, and others who specialize in catastrophic injuries to estimate the total monetary costs of an injury. This may include future medical bills, nursing care, medications, therapy, additional necessary treatment, home modifications, and loss of future income and earning capacity. 

Non-economic damages. Putting a dollar amount on damages like pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of companionship is more challenging, as these are intangible losses. Depending on the severity of your injuries, how they have affected your life, and the circumstances surrounding your specific case, your lawyer may determine that these damages are worth from 2-to-5 times the amount of tangible future economic damages like medical bills and wage loss. This is a general rule of thumb that varies from claim to claim. 

Looking At The Big Picture
Some other factors that have an impact on future losses include your age, education, occupation, medical history, where your claim is litigated, and whether multiple parties are liable for damages. Of course, insurance policy limits also play a part when determining how much an injured victim may be entitled to recover for future losses. If the negligent party who is responsible for your injury acted in a particularly reckless or malicious manner, your lawyer may seek punitive damages as well. If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury, it is also a good idea to speak with an estate attorney who can help you draft vital documents such as powers of attorney, an advance directive, and a will.  

What Are Mitigated Damages?
One of the reasons it is so important to get proper medical care after an accident is that insurance companies will try to offer lower settlement amounts if they believe you failed to mitigate injury-related damages. Going to the emergency room and following-up with recommended treatment after a car accident, slip and fall, or any other type of accident can help protect your rights and give you a better chance of recovering maximum compensation to get the care you need and move on with your life.

If you need assistance with a claim involving catastrophic injury, contact a personal injury attorney today.

Monday, May 24, 2021

Common Types Of Medical Malpractices Cases

 
Personal Injury Attorney

Most health care professionals care about the safety and well-being of their patients. However, physicians, surgeons, hospitals, and other health care providers can make serious errors that cause injury or death. Dealing with the physical and emotional repercussions of these injuries can be challenging and have a lifelong impact on victims. If you believe you or a loved one has been a victim of medical negligence, having a top medical malpractice attorney evaluate your case and help you understand common types of malpractice can help make things right for you and your family.

What is Medical Malpractice?

Before you consider filing a lawsuit against a health care professional or organization, it is important to understand what medical malpractice is. Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, hospital, health care system, or other health care professional causes an injury to a patient due to a negligent act or omission. However, just because a doctor made an error that may have caused an injury does not mean you automatically have a medical malpractice case that will be easy to win.

Types Of Medical Malpractice Claims

Medical malpractice cases are quite complex and require the knowledge and experience of a seasoned personal injury attorney who is familiar with what it takes to prove negligence and liability in these types of cases. There are countless situations in which someone may be injured due to negligence, but some common types of medical malpractice cases include:

Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose – When a doctor fails to correctly diagnose an illness or condition, the consequences can be deadly. Whether a physician fails to recognize a discernable illness or diagnoses a patient with a condition they do not have, it can result in a patient not receiving the treatment they need or a healthy patient getting unnecessary treatment that could be invasive or harmful. If you are misdiagnosed, malpractice would only be considered if a doctor failed to follow appropriate standards of care and you were harmed as a result.

Failure to Treat – In some cases, a doctor may fail to recommend adequate treatment for a condition. Failing to offer follow-up care after surgery, releasing a patient too soon, or neglecting to refer someone to a specialist when necessary are all examples of a failure to treat.

Birth Injuries – One of the most heartbreaking types of medical malpractice are birth injuries, which are often preventable and can happen in many different ways. Negligence may occur during childbirth or prenatal care and result in serious brain injury, nerve injuries, and other conditions that significantly affect a child’s quality of life and require costly long-term care.

Medical Product Liability – Thousands of patients are injured or killed each year due to faulty medical devices. If you’ve been hurt by a defective medical device, you may be able to pursue a product liability claim against the designer, manufacturer, and distributor of the device. In addition, a doctor or hospital may be liable in a medical malpractice claim if they failed to know the risk of harm before a device’s use or failed to warn a patient of the risk of harm.

If you believe you have been hurt by malpractice, contact a medical malpractice law firm today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.pa4law.com/common-types-of-medical-malpractices-cases/

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

What Should I Do If I Am Injured In A Drunk Driving Accident?

 
Personal Injury Attorney

Although the penalties for drunk driving are stiff, motorists still get behind the wheel while impaired. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that approximately 28 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes every day. Being injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver can have devastating consequences as well. Top car accident lawyers share some tips that can help protect your rights and hold responsible parties accountable.

Stay Calm and Call 911

After a crash, it is normal to feel shaken, overwhelmed, and even angry. Keeping a cool head and noticing what’s happening around you can help you remember important details that may be relevant to a car accident claim. Call 911 or local law enforcement. If you suspect that the other driver is impaired, make sure to tell officers when they arrive on the scene. If possible, get a copy of the police report at the scene – it provides vital documentation of the accident and what officers may have observed.

Seek Medical Attention

Calling 911 can also help to ensure you get the medical attention you need if you have been injured. Going to the emergency room or seeing your doctor as soon as you can is crucial not only to protect your health and well-being, but also to provide valuable evidence of your injuries. Make sure to save all medical bills and receipts for any accident-related expenses.

Gather Contact Information

Obtain insurance and contact information from any motorists involved in the crash, including their full name, phone number, email, license plate, and driver’s license info. If there are any witnesses, write down their contact information and statements as well.

Take Photos and Video

If you are able, take photos of the scene, damage to vehicles your injuries, and anything else you think may be important. A video can also provide useful visual documentation of the scene. If you are seriously injured or unable to take photos, ask a passenger or bystander to take some pictures.

Document Everything You Remember

Documenting what happened while it is fresh in your mind can help back-up the facts of your claim later. Whether you write it on a piece of paper or use the voice recorder on your smartphone, try to get the details down as soon as possible.

Contact a Car Accident Attorney

Even if you believe your injuries are not that serious, speak with a personal injury attorney after a drunk driving accident. Symptoms of some injuries may not appear right away, and the last thing you want is to be stuck with piles of medical bills down the road. If you have sustained a serious injury that keeps you from working and requires extensive medical treatment, a lawyer can evaluate your case and help you pursue the maximum compensation you need to protect your health and finances. An attorney will know how to gather the right evidence and put it all together to build a solid case. If a restaurant, bar, or individual served alcohol to a visibly-intoxicated person, they may be liable for damages as well.

Do you need assistance with a car accident claim involving a drunk driver? Contact an attorney to learn more.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.pa4law.com/what-should-i-do-if-i-am-injured-in-a-drunk-driving-accident/

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

What An Attorney Considers Before Accepting Your Personal Injury Case

 

Top accident attorneys

If you have been injured in an accident or due to a malfunctioning product, you should seek the guidance of a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Top accident attorneys can help you avoid some common mistakes people make that can affect the amount of your settlement. According to a study by the Insurance Research Council, injured people who have an attorney working on their behalf receive settlements 3.5 times larger than those who settle on their own with insurance companies.

However, many people do not realize that an experienced personal injury attorney does not take every case that is brought to him or her. Personal injury attorneys usually work on a contingency fee, which means that they only get paid if you win a settlement. If the case does not justify an attorney’s involvement, the lawyer will decline the case.

So, what does an attorney consider before accepting your personal injury case?

When the accident or injury occurred. There are prescriptive periods or “Limitations” regarding the amount of time in which you can file a personal injury claim following the accident, and these vary from state to state. Your attorney will know what the rule is in the state in which you would file your lawsuit.

Where the accident or injury occurred. This would include the state, county and municipality where you were injured. You may have exceeded the prescriptive period in the state, or perhaps failed to comply with other rules that regard personal injury cases.

If the liable party is insured. Car accident attorneys often are reluctant to take a personal injury case if the liable party does not have insurance that would pay a settlement. It is very difficult to procure payment from individuals who are not insured.

The extent of your injuries. Monetary damages are established based on the impact of the injuries to your ability to carry on tasks of daily living and to work, as well as the amount of estimated medical bills. The injury may be real, but an attorney may decline the case if you will quickly recover to your previous abilities, and without sizeable medical bills.

Documents you have collected. Documenting an accident as soon as it occurs is very important to maximizing your settlement. Take photos and/or videos (even if you must ask someone at the scene to help you). Write down everything you can remember about the incident and obtain names and contact information of any potential witnesses. Keep records of any medical treatments. Keep a diary of your activities to show the accident’s impact on your personal and work life.

Actions you have taken. If you have been injured by a medical mistake, your medical malpractice law firm will want to review all the records associated with your case. Be sure to collect all medical records if you were taken to the hospital following an accident. If you aren’t in need of emergency care, it is often best to talk to your attorney before visiting a doctor or health care facility. If a defective product injured you, keep the product in precisely the condition it was in at the moment you were injured, and retain all packaging, instructions and receipts that accompanied the product.

If you have been injured and another individual or entity is at fault, do not delay seeking the guidance of a highly experienced attorney, who will determine if you have a viable case and what actions you should take next.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.pa4law.com/what-an-attorney-considers-before-accepting-your-personal-injury-case/

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Getting Compensation for Premises Liability in Slip & Fall Accidents


Personal Injury Attorney

Sometimes in movies and TV shows, actors are shown to fake a slip and fall accident in order to collect monetary damages from a business owner. In truth, it is difficult to fake an accident like this because both sides will investigate the claim, and true negligence is more challenging to prove than you might think.

If you have been legitimately injured on another person’s property, your personal injury attorney will still have to establish that the owner of the property is liable for an unsafe situation that caused your injuries. If your attorney has evidence to prove this, he or she may be able to reach a settlement with the property owner’s insurance company. If a settlement is not reached, your case may go to trial and a judge or jury will make the final determination.

What if the owner of the business was nowhere near the premises when you were injured, but an employee or agent of the property owner was present? Then this person’s actions (or lack of preventive action) could make the owner liable for your injuries.

The best accident attorneys will investigate these questions:

1.    Who are all the parties who may be liable for your injuries?

2.    Did actions by these parties cause your injuries?

3.    Did actions the parties failed to take cause your injuries?

Your attorney will need to be prepared to counter a defense that asserts your actions or carelessness caused the injuries.

Understanding liability and negligence

Suppose you were injured when you stumbled due to an uneven walking surface when attempting to enter a business. The property owner could be held liable for the injuries if a reasonable person would have realized this was an unsafe condition, and the property owner had enough time to fix the unsafe condition

If both of these conditions are met, the property owner could be considered to be negligent, and thus liable for monetary damages to the injured person. It seems simple, but it is not always so straightforward. Suppose also that the uneven surface was not easy to recognize, or perhaps the condition causing the uneven surface happened just last night. These questions will arise when determining liability.

Another issue that will be raised is whether you caused the injury through your own behavior. If the property owner or employee posted a warning sign saying the surface was uneven, and you ignored the sign and walked on the surface anyway, you may be accused of causing your own injuries.

According to the American Bar Association, states have varying rules that say how long you can wait to file your personal injury claim. For instance, Pennsylvania has a two-year “statute of limitations.”

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, you should:

•    Take photos of the area where you were injured, showing the hazards that caused your injuries

•    Do not describe your injuries to an insurance representative or the property owner until after you have been examined by a doctor

As quickly as you can after the accident, contact experienced PI attorneys like those at Perna & Abracht LLC, who will advise you about the next steps to take in obtaining compensation for your injuries.

5 Steps You Should Take if You Are Injured in a Motorcycle Accident


Best Accident Attorneys

Emotions run high after any motor vehicle accident, and these emotions are not your friend. If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, it is important to remain as calm as possible and act logically to call for help, document what happened, and gather information from the other parties involved in the accident. Be sure to stay focused on these tasks and do not make any comments or have conversations that could be interpreted as admissions of fault. Following are five steps to take to assist your personal injury attorney in achieving a successful outcome for your claim of personal injury.

1.    Check for injuries.
It may be apparent that you are injured, or perhaps not, as you may be stunned and overcome with emotion. Carefully check yourself for the type and severity of injuries, and then check to see if others have been injured in the accident.

2.    Documentation.
Everyone carries a mobile phone these days, and if yours is handy (and you are able), it is a good idea to take photos immediately (before any vehicles are moved).  The best car accident lawyers would suggest taking photos of the vehicles involved and the surroundings. Remember that the aftermath of an accident can be dangerous, so do not risk further injury to yourself or to others in an attempt to take the photos.

3.    Make the scene as safe as you can until help arrives. This would include moving your motorcycle off the road when it is safe for you to do this. Drivers of oncoming vehicles do not know there has been an accident, and having vehicles and debris on the roadway could cause more accidents and injuries. According to the American Bar Association, this could be considered negligence and you could be held responsible.

4.    Call 911 right away. Making the 911 call is not considered to be an admission of fault or guilt. If you have called 911, a police officer will arrive and collect information for a police report. This is likely to be an important document in your personal injury claim. Speak with the police officer, get his or her name and badge number, and find out where the police report can be obtained. Report the injuries you have observed or that have been reported to you. Also gather information about the other driver(s), passengers and witnesses, ideally including:

•    Names, phone numbers and email addresses

•    Make and model of involved vehicles, their license plate numbers and vehicle identification (VIN) numbers

•    Names and contact information for insurance companies

5.    Inform your insurance agent. This should happen as soon as possible after the accident. Be prepared to share the documentation and information that you gathered. The best accident attorneys will advise you to avoid describing your injuries or the damages to your motorcycle at this time. Tell the insurance agent you will report your injuries after being examined by a doctor, and damages to your motorcycle after a mechanic has looked at it. The extent of injuries and damages often are not immediately apparent.

What are the reasons you may need an attorney after you have been injured in a motorcycle accident? Maybe your injuries are severe and/or will have long-lasting effects on your health and your ability to work. Perhaps you were not at fault and the other involved parties claim it was your fault. Your insurance company might deny your claim. All of these are reasons to contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Perna & Abracht, LLC who will assist you in achieving the best possible outcome.

Wills 101: Navigating the Essentials, Common Myths, and Key Benefits

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