This area contains suggestions for you in case you find yourself or a loved one in one of the following situations or in need of the following information. It is general in nature and not meant to circumvent the need for an attorney.
What should you do if bitten by an animal?
1. Seek medical attention. Pay special attention to possible infectious diseases and psychological impact.
2. Determine owner of animal and the animal's shot records.
3. Take pictures of your injury and the place where the injury took place.
4. Obtain witness information, but do not speak to witnesses again. Let your attorney contact the witnesses
What to do if you have slipped and fallen in a store?
1. Leaving the scene as quickly as possible is not beneficial to you.
2. Preserve as much evidence as possible as the incident report is not sufficient.
3. Note witnesses names, addresses, and phone numbers.
4. Examine what caused you to fall. If it is something spilled, determine what it is, look for spilled or broken containers and tracks and footprints in the spill.
5. Save the shoes and clothing you were wearing in a plastic bag.
Duties to your own insurance company as a policy holder
These duties may be open to interpretation Carter Law Firm, P.C. can advise you
1. Assume no obligation, make no payment or incur any expense without the carrier's consent.
2. Immediately send copies to the carrier of any demand, notice, summons, or legal paper received concerning the claim or suit.
3. Cooperate with the carrier in the investigation, settlement or defense of the claim or suit.
4. Authorize the carrier to obtain medical records or other pertinent information.
5. The driver may be required to submit to a medical examination, at the carrier's expense, by physicians of their choice, as often as they reasonably require
What to do in case of an automobile accident?
1. Immediately take whatever safety steps are necessary and prudent to insure that any injured individual receives proper medical attention.
2. If you are injured yourself, do not ignore your own injuries and seek any necessary medical treatment as soon as possible. When you seek treatment, keep a diary of your injuries, pain, medication, missed work, mileage to therapy sessions and any other pertinent information about your damages.
3. Obtain names, addresses and telephone numbers of all witnesses. If you are injured, try to see that someone takes care of this important step. The police, who usually arrive well after the incident in question, rarely see the collision.
4. If the police are present, obtain the investigating officer's name and badge number and which police department he/she is employed by (Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, etc.). This will assist you in obtaining a copy of the police report. Determine if any tickets were issued, to whom and for what. If no police were available, go to a substation as soon as possible and fill out a station report of what happened. An exchange of driver's license and insurance information is appropriate and not an admission of liability.
5. Find out where the vehicles were taken. Do not authorize anyone to make repairs until a photographic record has been made and all parties who wish to examine the vehicle have been advised of its whereabouts and given a chance to examine the damage.
6. When discussing the incident with the police, do not admit liability, rather just provide the facts. Consider carefully before discussing the incident with any party that may be, or may become, adverse to your own interests, such as bystanders or insurance adjusters who want a taped statement. You may be served to retain counsel prior to providing such information.
7. If an you are an employee while in the course of your duty when injured, notify your employer's Workers' Compensation Department. It is likely that such coverage will be your exclusive remedy, however at times a third party such as a subcontractor may be found liable for your injuries. Report all information as soon as possible to your own insurer.
