Tips On What You Should Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
Slip and fall accidents lead to high numbers of injuries, hospitalizations, and fatalities every year in the United States. If you were hurt in a slip and fall accident, the injuries you suffered could set you back hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses. You may also experience pain and suffering, an inability to perform everyday tasks, and lost wages during your recovery period.
If someone is at fault for your slip and fall accident, it is not right that you should suffer the consequences of their mistake. At the law firm of Corban Gunn, Attorney at Law, we look at your case and help you determine who is liable. If another party is responsible for your injury, we can help you obtain compensation for your losses.
There are things you can do immediately after your slip and fall injury that will significantly help your case moving forward. No matter if your slip and fall occurred at a grocery store, restaurant, casino, swimming pool, apartment complex, or another venue, remember to follow these tips after a slip and fall accident.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
Remember that your health and safety come first after a slip, trip, and fall accident. If you are seriously injured, call for emergency medical services and don’t attempt to move. Summoning paramedics is critical if you injured your neck or back in the fall. If you can stand up on your own, then make it your priority to see a doctor or go to the hospital immediately following your slip and fall accident.
Seek Medical Attention
Make sure that your healthcare provider administers all the necessary diagnostic tests to rule out serious injury. It’s not uncommon for adrenaline to mask a serious, hidden injury. You may initially not experience any presenting symptoms because of this. Your doctor will be able to perform X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, or any other examinations needed to make sure you are not at serious risk of further complications following your accident.
The most common slip and fall injuries include:
- Concussions
- Soft tissue injuries
- Broken bones
- Traumatic head injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord damage
All of these can require significant healing. The records outlining your medical care are also essential evidence to support your claim. Be sure everything is carefully documented, and that you follow your doctor’s orders.
Take Pictures of the Accident Scene
If you are able, take a few moments to snap pictures of the scene following your fall. If you don’t feel that you can handle the task, ask a companion or other person present for their help. The pictures don’t need to be perfect, but they should give a good feel for the circumstances that led to your accident.
You should have these photos taken immediately before the removal of any evidence. Immediacy is key to establishing proof of what may have caused you to fall, such as a spill on the floor, a loose piece of carpeting, a broken stair, debris left in a walking path, or other danger to people walking in the area.
Report the Incident
You should always ask who’s in charge of the premises and report the slip and fall incident to them as soon as it occurs. This may be a landlord, property owner or management company, store manager, or homeowner. Essentially, you should make sure that you are speaking with the person with the greatest authority in the place where you fell.
There should be a detailed report created at this time to give a written account of exactly what happened. The responding police officer should create a report when you summon them to the scene.
Make sure that you obtain a physical copy of any written reports of the accident for your records. However, keep in mind that it’s best to limit your communication with property owners until you have spoken with your lawyer.
Your words can be used against you and it’s unlikely that all the details regarding the circumstances of the case have emerged. Be honest, neutral, and only talk about the direct facts of what happened. Don’t make any assumptions about cause or fault.
Talk to Eyewitnesses
If anyone witnessed your fall, ask them to give a statement and provide their personal contact information if they are willing to do so. This individual should have personally witnessed the event from beginning to end. They should be able to provide information about the circumstances leading up to your fall and how, when, and where you fell.
You should ask them to be as specific as possible on every detail of the accident. Ask them to write everything down, and make sure to save eyewitness contact info so that it’s easier to reach them later. The testimony of one or more eyewitnesses can be essential evidence in helping you prove that what you claim happened did, in fact, happen.
Be Aware of Factors That Can Complicate Your Case
There are multiple factors that can complicate a slip and fall lawsuit. An insurance adjuster can use inaccurate information in the report, such as miswritten words, to discredit your claim. The issue that caused your injury might be fixed before you can document it if you don’t take photos immediately after your incident. An insurance company may also try to claim that you weren’t seriously hurt if you don’t get medical treatment right away. Keep these potential difficulties in mind as you work to gather evidence to support your claim.
Be Sure You Have a Strong Attorney
If you don’t have a good lawyer by your side, it’s easy for powerful entities like insurance companies and wealthy businesses to take advantage of your situation. As a personal injury law firm, we are all too familiar with the tactics insurance companies use to minimize the compensation given to injured slip and fall accident victims. We don’t let that happen to our clients here at the office of Corban Gunn, Attorney at Law.
We can fight to get you the compensation you need to cover your losses if you suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident. Call our office to schedule a meeting. Your consultation is free and we will provide you with the information you need to move forward with a slip and fall claim.
