What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
Do you know what to do in the event of a slip and fall accident? Review these steps to stay prepared in the event you slip and fall in a workplace, in a store, or on the sidewalk. And of course, speak to an attorney with experience in slip and fall cases today if you’ve been injured slipping, tripping, or falling in a building or outdoors on someone else’s property.
Get Medical Attention
Your first priority should be to get appropriate medical attention for your injuries. This is important for several reasons. First, you may have injuries that are not immediately apparent. Consider a head or neck injury, or muscle straining; these injuries may be detectable early on but may not make their appearance until later on. Therefore it is important to have such injuries diagnosed and cared for immediately. Second, it may be argued later that you injured yourself doing something else, and that something other than your slip and fall is responsible for your injuries. Seeing a doctor right away makes those claims easier to dismiss because there is little time in the interim. Medical records and the opinions of experts will be front and center of your slip and fall claim.
Document, Document, Document
Wherever you slip and fall, management likely has a report to make regarding the incident. Politely insist that they do, and keep a copy. Failure to do so can mean a claim later that you did not take your accident or injury seriously. If there are any witnesses, take down their names, phone numbers, and addresses so that you can ask them questions in the future. When you go home, write down what happened in detail, even if you believe you will remember it. An attorney can assist you in putting together all of the pieces later. It is important to have an accurate timeline and description of events, unimpeded by the degradation of human memory.
Take Photos
Take photos of the area where you slipped and fell. Ensure you do this even if you believe the condition that made you fall is permanent, like a crack in a sidewalk or ice in front of a set of stairs. Note any signs posted or indications to be cautious, and look to see if you can identify the cause of your fall. Juries like to be able to look at photos to envision what happened to the claimant. And photos can be reliable and permanent evidence of conditions at the time of your slip and fall accident. Don’t trust the property owner or manager to take photos; they probably will not and may move or alter the conditions of where you were injured.
Notify a Slip and Fall Attorney
Slip and fall injuries can be complicated and severe. Claims for slip and fall accidents can be large and complex. You need an attorney to properly protect your rights and interests in a slip and fall claim. Don’t wait, because time is of the essence. Contact an experienced slip and fall attorney today at The Stanley Law Group. Call 803-799-4700 and set up a consultation today.
