You may not live a reckless life, but no matter how careful you are the unfortunate reality is that you can never be one hundred percent sure of avoiding injury. There are, after all, other people in this world whose recklessness and negligence can result in your injury.

If and when that happens, you’ll be faced with sudden and stressful decisions. You’ll have to protect yourself and begin your recovery without going broke due to medical bills and lost wages. Even here in Canada, where healthcare is notably more affordable than in some other countries, there will still be expenses to worry about. For instance, there are copays and health-related costs that the system does not automatically cover for you.

When you’ve been hurt due to someone else’s negligence, you need to understand two things: That you should prioritize your care and your health and that you may be entitled to compensation.

Your health comes first

You need to take any potential injuries seriously if you’ve been hurt in a car accident or other incident, explain the experts at a healthcare center in New Britain, CT. Some American patients will shy away from assessments and treatments due to fears over costs; and victims of accidents everywhere, including here in Canada, may skip the doctor’s office because they think that they feel fine.

Some injuries take a while to show symptoms, however; concussions, for instance, may be less noticeable at the scene of the accident than they are later on. That’s why it’s so important to get checked out and have a doctor tell you exactly what injuries you have or may have.

And, when you visit the doctor right after an accident or for ongoing treatment following the incident, be sure to hold onto any documentation. In addition to other paperwork, such as police reports from the scene of the accident, your doctor’s notes, diagnoses, and bills may eventually form the foundation of a personal injury case.

Justice through personal injury law

In Canada and the United States, as in many Western countries, there are strong protections in the law for people who are unjustly injured by the negligence of others. Our laws have long understood what we all know to be true: That the consequences of an accident should rest with the party that caused the accident and not by innocent bystanders.

Obviously, life is not fair: Even though you didn’t cause your accident, plenty of those consequences have ended up with you. Nothing can undo your injury, but you can seek compensation. Working with a trusted personal injury attorney can help you achieve success in a personal injury lawsuit, which could win you financial compensation for the terrible things that you’ve had to deal with. Among other things, you could be compensated for lost wages, medical expenses, or pain and suffering. If your injury claim relates to an accident on holiday, you could also be compensated for missed flights and the cost of any medical treatment in the country in which you sustained your injury.

Time is of the essence, though, say the experts at the Preszler personal injury law firm. You don’t have unlimited time to file a lawsuit, and your lawyer needs time to prepare your case before you file. That’s why you should reach out to a personal injury attorney as early on as you can. As soon as you think you might want to file a personal injury suit, start researching your options and make an appointment for an initial consultation.

Do you have a case? That’s for you and your attorney to decide. You should only ever get legal advice from a trained and licensed attorney who knows the details of your case. One thing is for sure: If you’re going to get justice, your first step is to call a lawyer.