When you don’t speak English or are not a native speaker, it can be difficult to get your point across. You may be able to answer simple questions or provide succinct answers, but it might be difficult to find the right words to describe your injuries, location or other important information.
When you’re involved in an auto collision, one of the first things you will do is call 911 to ask for help. Did you know that you can ask for an interpreter when you call? If you speak Spanish or any other language, you should tell the operator which language you speak. They can then dial into an interpreter who will help you express yourself clearly to the medical team and other parties who are assisting you.
Get support in your language if you’re hurt in a car crash
While you may feel that you need to speak English since those around you are, the truth is that you can, and should, ask for help in your native language. For example, you can ask for an interpreter to help you translate your concerns to your medical team or may request that you have an attorney who is bilingual in your language and English.
In both medicine and law, being able to express yourself in a way that is understood is essential. For example, at the scene of a crash, someone who has sharp, stabbing pain in the abdomen wouldn’t just want to say that their stomach hurts. In court, they wouldn’t just want to express that the other driver was distracted, they’d want to say that they saw them on their phone or looking away from the road.
Good communication makes a difference in personal injury cases. You deserve to be understood and to have someone on your team who can help you in your primary language. Bridging the gap between you and the others you will be helped by or be working with is necessary, so that you can protect yourself, get the medical care you need and make a personal injury claim that gets you the compensation you need.