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Here are the things that you need to know if you’ve been involved in a catastrophic
accident here in the state of Virginia. I’m Jesse Suit, personal injury trial attorney
with Kalfus & Nachman, practicing throughout the state of Virginia. If you’ve been involved
in a catastrophic accident, you need to take immediate action. You need to consult with
an attorney immediately. There are certain steps that have to be taken right away. First
off, you have to get the 911 tapes. It’s remarkable the information you learn when
other independent eye witnesses call in an accident to 911. You also need to get the
news broadcast from that night or the next day when the investigate reporters go out
to the scene. They videotape the scene and they also give you critical information. You
need to get photographs of the scene exactly as it is at the time of the accident. In addition,
you need to talk to the witnesses quickly. With time, their memories fade – people
forget. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve gone out to speak to police officers
immediately after an accident happened to see what they remember and they’ll pull
out their investigative notes and we’ll find other witnesses and other information
you won’t get from an accident report. You actually have to meet with them and find out
what’s in their files. Sometimes we find photographs that aren’t documented otherwise.
So it’s very important that you act immediately while the accident is fresh in the memories
of all the witnesses and you can actually document everything that happened, as it happened.
In addition, it really takes a team effort. Not only do you need a lawyer working for
you, but you’re going to need experts. In most of these cases, you’re going to need
medical experts. You’re going to need vocational experts, economic experts, sometimes an accident
reconstruction expert. Depending on the type of injury, you’re going to need more than
one doctor. We’ve used neurologists, neuropsychologists, trauma surgeons – all sorts of doctors in
various specialties. Because when you suffer a catastrophic injury, you probably have more
than just one medical condition that’s causing more difficulty. In addition to the medical
experts, we use vocational experts, life care planners, and financial experts who help you
with structured settlements. If you don’t act immediately and if you don’t preserve
the evidence and if you don’t then get the right experts to work with you, to help you
get better and to document your injuries, you’re not going to be able to prove your
case at trial. Why do I tell you this? Because it’s important. If you don’t get this
evidence, you’re not going to be able to prove your case at trial. Jesse Suit, trial
attorney Kalfus & Nachman. 888-487-8546. Thank you for watching.