Between the pain involved and the inconvenience of doctor appointments and treatment regimens, all injuries pose challenges. 

However, personal injuries can be even more complicated as patients must secure proper diagnoses, fill out paperwork, and navigate the complex legal system in addition to healing.

Finding the right medical provider who can offer a second opinion or provide an independent medical evaluation (IME) is key.

Dr. Jocelyn Idema and our top-notch team at Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center in Western Pennsylvania and South Florida provide care for your spine and orthopedic needs.

We also have extensive experience providing IMEs and can give you an accurate picture of your health and help smooth the process of your workers' compensation or personal injury claim.

Types of personal injury

Personal injury claims can be filed for three reasons.

 The first — and most common — is negligence, which means a person didn't behave with a level of care that most people would use in a certain situation, resulting in an injury. Examples include driving too fast or failing to control an aggressive dog.

Strict liability results when an injury occurs to an individual even when that wasn’t the intent or the result of negligence on the part of another person or company (think product defect).

 The third type of personal injury covers intentional wrongs, a deliberate action against an individual such as assault and battery.

Causes of personal injuries

A wide variety of personal injuries can occur, including orthopedic and spinal issues such as broken bones and back and neck pain.

Examples of causes include car, motorcycle, or pedestrian accidents, as well as slip-and-fall events. Medical malpractice, malfunctioning products, and dog bites are other common causes of personal injury.

Next steps after injury

If you’ve suffered a personal injury, steps to take include:

Get medical attention

Even if your injuries seem minor, see a doctor as soon as possible. With more serious injuries, don’t refuse help at the accident scene or if taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Document everything

Take photos and video of the accident scene and your injuries. In the case of a car accident, take pictures of all the vehicles involved.

Collect information

Gather the names, contact information, and insurance details of anyone involved. Also, be sure to ask any witnesses for their names and phone numbers.

Keep the evidence

Collect your medical records as soon as you receive a diagnosis and for any additional and ongoing care. Also, keep copies of insurance bills and correspondence.

Maintain a personal injury journal

Write down your memories of the accident as soon and as thoroughly as possible. If your injuries are ongoing, make daily notes of pain levels, things you can and can't do, and so on.

 If you’re injured in an accident and need help with a personal injury case, we can help. Click our online request button or call the office nearest you today to make an appointment.