7 Steps After a Slip and Fall Accident

If you have an unfortunate fall that causes an injury, it greatly affects your life. It can cause stress and anxiety as well as potential job loss and financial costs for medical rehabilitation. 

While a slip or fall is an accident, if it occurs on some else’s property and it happened through no fault of your own, you must protect yourself. Walkways inside and outside need to be maintained for safety. As such, you shouldn’t be responsible for falling on someone else’s property. If an accident occurs, contact an injury lawyer because you may be entitled to compensation for negligence.

Here are seven important steps to take after a slip and fall accident.

Seek Medical Attention

Call emergency services immediately if you have a serious accidental slip or fall. You should get the injury checked out, even if you think it isn’t serious and can walk it off. There may be an underlying injury that can worsen over time and cause permanent damage. A blow to the head can be fatal if left unchecked so get medical treatment first. It’s always better to err on the side of caution.

If you cannot make the call, ask a passerby to help. Suppose you end up having to sue for damages. In that case, a visit to the emergency room or clinic can prove the seriousness of your injury and have documented evidence that you required medical help.

Report the Accident

Wherever your accident happens, make sure to notify the owner of the property. If it is inside or in front of a store, contact the store manager. Ask them to make out a written report and give you a copy. This goes for any place, commercial or residential. It could be your landlord or a homeowner.

If you cannot speak with them before you go to the hospital, make contact with them as soon as you can. They need to be notified of the hazards at their place and provide an accident report for you.

Find Out the Cause

Determine what the cause of the accident was. It could be a tripping hazard in the way, such as an uneven surface or a broken step. Even uneven carpet poses a hazard. Snow or ice not removed are dangerous and pose a threat to walking through it.

Take note of all hazards in the place where you fell. This will be important later and may act as evidence.

Collect Any Evidence

You want to make sure that the slip or fall was not your fault, so having as much evidence as you can get is vital. Take photos of the accident scene and if there were any witnesses, take down their contact information. Record the clothing you were wearing, including your footwear. Any evidence you collect will help support your case and could determine a factor in getting compensation.

Document Everything

If you end up fighting for compensation in court, you will need proof of your injuries. Start documenting everything as soon as you can. Write down what you were doing when the accident occurred and what conditions led to the fall. List the location where the accident happened and whether it was at a residential or commercial building.

Keep all your medical documents in order, including the initial visit and prognosis. Ask everyone for paperwork so you can build a file. Keep a pain journal rating your daily pain level, frequency of medication, how your injury is progressing and how the injury has impacted your life.

Anyone you spoke with at the accident scene should be written down as well, including taking their name and job position. Ask if they were aware of the hazard because if the owner knew about the hazard but didn’t fix it, that will carry weight if it goes to trial.

Don’t Give Statements

While you may want to tell the world what happens, try to be discrete with who you communicate with. Don’t engage with the property owner other than asking for information, and don’t give a statement to any insurance company. Make sure not to publicly lay blame or take the blame for the accident.

Consult an Injury Lawyer

You will need to contact a lawyer that specializes in personal injury. Because slip and fall injuries are usually disputed, you must have a professional who can represent you and work to compensate for your accident.

Fighting for justice when you are injured can be overwhelming. A qualified lawyer can guide you through the entire process and represent you if it goes to court. Because the other parties often refute the injury claims and deny blame, you need someone to represent you and fight for fair compensation. 

By following these steps, your lawyer will have ample evidence to strongly fight on your behalf to get justice and compensation. They have the knowledge and expertise to get what damages are fair for your slip and fall accident.