What You Need To Do After a Slip And Fall Accident
An accident where you slip and fall can happen to you anywhere at any time. It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain their homes and walkways, ensuring a minimum safety level, which is known as premises liability.
If you suffered an injury due to the property owner neglecting their property, you could be entitled to monetary compensation from the property owner. This financial compensation can be used to cover your time away from work, medical bills, and more.
The four steps you need to take if you have been injured in a slip and fall accident are the following:
Step 1: Inspect Your Surrounding Area
Examine the area where the fall occurred immediately after a slip and fall accident. Take note of what caused the fall, any witnesses to the fall and the conditions of the floor. Was there a crack in the concrete, ice on the pavement or any other obstacles? All of this information is required in order to create a complete picture of the incident.
A property owner can alter the conditions after a slip and fall incident, so recording the state of the property as it was when the accident occurred is a key piece of information when seeking a settlement. If possible, you need to take pictures of the area using your phone immediately after the accident.
Step 2: Receive Medical Attention For Your Injuries
After a slip and fall accident, your health should be your priority. If you have been injured, seek medical attention at an urgent care facility or emergency room. Here, your injuries will be documented, which means you will have proof of them.
You must also go to any required medical appointments after your initial visit to the emergency room. These appointments could be any follow-up appointments or physical therapy. If you skip them or do not follow the care recommendations, an insurance company or jury may have questions regarding the severity of your injuries.
Step 3: Make a Record of The Incident
If your accident happened at a place of business, you need to alert a manager or the property owner of the event. If you are seeking a settlement, you need to be aware of the following considerations:
● File a claim, even if the property owner accepts responsibility and is willing to pay compensation. Most likely, you will still need to file a claim to get proper compensation for any work you had to miss or any long-term consequences of your accident.
● The communication with the property owner should be limited. You should not speak to any company representatives either, as your statements may be used against you.
● Don’t talk to anyone about the accident or post about it on social media. Any claims you give to medical providers should be consistent with the report given to the property owner.
Step 4: Keep Notes About Your Injuries
To prove negligence on the part of the property owner, there are several things you need to do.
● Talk to any witnesses that saw your fall, and get their personal information.
● Write down the date, location, time and a description of your slip and fall accident.
● Keep notes about any medical treatments you’ve received. Describe your doctor visits, medical costs and pain level in as much detail as possible.
Step 5: Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
If you want to file a claim against the property owner, take all of your evidence to a lawyer, including the notes, pictures, and medical records. To ensure swift compensation, you must do this as quickly as possible. It can be difficult to prove that the property owner was at fault in a slip and fall accident, meaning that your best chance is to have an experienced lawyer by your side.
Your attorney can assist you with everything related to your claim, such as drafting a demand letter and sending it to the property owner. A property owner will not necessarily not be at fault just because they disclosed a known danger, as they need to fix the issue in order to prevent injuries.