Fall Injury: What to Do When You’re Injured on Someone Else’s Property

Did you know that falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths? A fall injury is even more serious if you are elderly, as slips, trips, and falls are extremely dangerous for those who are older and have more brittle bones.

What happens if you fall on someone else’s property and are injured? Are they responsible for the fall? It’s important to understand, as you may want to speak with an attorney to determine if the property owner is at fault and if you are entitled to any sort of compensation.

Keep reading to learn more about what you should do if you are injured on someone else’s property.

Seek Medical Attention

If you fall and are injured, seek medical attention immediately, even if your injuries seem minor. What seems like a minor injury at first may turn in to something more serious later. Make sure you keep all of your medical records and any documentation from your doctor or the emergency room.

Take Pictures

This is the time to pull out your cell phone to take pictures of the area where the accident occurred. Try to do this immediately, as you want to take pictures of the conditions before any changes occur (e.g., if there was water on the floor, snow or ice that was not removed, other fall hazards, etc.).

You’ll want photos of the dangerous conditions that resulted in your fall before anyone has the chance to alter the area.

Get Names and Information of Witnesses

If there were witnesses to your fall, get their names and contact information, if possible. If you are hurt at a business, get the information for any employees who witnessed your fall as well. If you hire a personal injury lawyer, they will want to speak to these witnesses

Contact the Property Owner

Whether the fall happened at a business or on private property, it’s important to let the manager or owner know. If possible, have them sign a document acknowledging your injury, and make sure to keep this document.

Don’t Sign Anything

If the property owner or business owner asks you to sign something, do not do it, especially if you’re unsure of what you’re actually signing. In fact, once you retain an attorney, you should not communicate with the property or business owner at all. Let your attorney handle all communication.

Document Everything

Whether it’s medical expenses, photographs, any communication with the property owner or witnesses, document everything in writing. Keeping a paper trail will help your case should you end up in court.

Keep any receipts or invoices for expenses incurred as a result of the injury, including medical expenses, travel to see specialists, etc. If you miss work, document that as well, as you may be entitled to compensation for any expenses.

What To Do After a Fall Injury

If you have been the victim of a fall injury, especially if it happened on property owned by someone else, make sure you protect yourself by following these suggestions after the injury occurs. Don’t compromise any chance you have for compensation.

If you found this useful, be sure to explore some of our other posts.