Slip-and-fall accidents can occur when and where you least expect them. Whether due to a slippery grocery floor, icy sidewalk, or dark staircase, an accident could leave you in bad shape.
While some falls may merely hurt your pride, others may cause more serious damage like broken bones, concussions, or back injuries.
Here are five things to do when injured after falling or tripping on another person’s property:
Get Medical Attention Immediately
Your health is most important. Even if you don’t notice immediate discomfort from the accident, see a doctor. Certain injuries, like concussions, internal trauma, or hairline fractures, will not appear initially.
Delaying a doctor’s visit could harm your health and make it harder to convince an insurance company that you were truly hurt due to the slip or fall.
After seeing your doctor, adhere strictly to the medical professional’s instructions. Failure to do so can destroy your personal injury case.
Report the Accident to the Property Owner or Manager
After making sure you’re safe and stable, notify the property owner, landlord, or manager about your fall. If it happens at a business, ask to speak with a supervisor or employee in charge.
Most businesses have accident report forms readily available. If the accident is on private property, contact the homeowner or landlord by letter.
Photograph the Scene and Collect Evidence
Evidence is best if it’s taken at the time of the accident, when everything is still intact.
Do the following:
- Take a picture or a video of the scene where you had the accident.
- Make a note of other scene conditions, such as lighting, signs, or lack of safety cones.
- Obtain witness contact information.
Don’t count on the owner of the property or the insurance company to preserve evidence for you.
Be Careful What You Say
After a fall, emotions can run high. Avoid saying things like, “I’m fine,” “It was my fault,” or “I should have been more careful.” Statements like these can be twisted to minimize or deny your claim.
Consult a Personal Injury Attorney Before You Act
Premises liability cases are difficult. You have to establish that the owner knew or had reason to know of the unsafe condition. As well, you must show that the owner was negligent in failing to repair it or warn guests.
Owners and their insurers most commonly raise the argument that the risk was “open and obvious” or that the victim was negligent.
You need a personal injury attorney to help you by doing the following:
- Investigate the accident and get useful evidence.
- Locate all of the principal parties and witnesses.
- Negotiate with insurance adjusters to get appropriate compensation.
- Represent you in court if there is no settlement.
Most personal injury lawyers operate on contingency fees, so you won’t have to pay them if you lose your case.
Slipping on other people’s property can change your life in the worst possible ways. That’s why you should focus on getting medical attention, reporting the incident, gathering proof, being mindful of what you say, and talking to an experienced lawyer to get the compensation you need and deserve.
You can recover financially, as well as physically, from a slip or fall. The five steps mentioned above can put you in the best possible position to do so reasonably and assertively.
After hiring a personal injury lawyer, you can ask whatever questions you have. Getting the right answers will equip you to make informed decisions. You don’t have to, and definitely shouldn’t, try to go it alone. Hiring a lawyer is one of the best things you can do.
Founder Dinis Guarda
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