Slipped and fell? 4 things to do before you file
Buildings, parking lots, walkways, malls, stores and homes all have one thing in common: They’re all places that anyone could potentially slip and fall. The saddest and most frustrating thing about the whole thing, is that it’s usually not the claimants fault. All these places must, by law be safe to navigate and to use, this is also known as premises liability – for more information check out this slip and fall lawyer in Toronto. This negligence could mean that you’re entitled to compensation, but before you file there are a few others steps you should take. Remember, the action you take immediately after a slip or fall can help you build the best legal case.
Here you’ll find 4 things you should do before you file after your slip and fall accident.
Seek medical treatment first
Don’t put it off. Your health – or the health of a loved one who has fallen – is your number one priority. Not only because we don’t want to be in pain, and we want to ensure that we’re on the road to recovery as quickly as possible. But also because a medical professional will properly document any injuries sustained. If you decide to go ahead with your case, then these medical documents will be important pieces of evidence, so seek medical treatment as quickly as possible.
Report the incident
It can seem frustrating but going through the proper channels means that you’re building the strongest possible case. So, regardless of where the slip and fall took place – a store, side walk, even a friend’s house – you need to report the incident as soon as possible to the landlord, manager or property owner. They should also complete their own report which you can request a copy of.
Keep your cool
Falling and injuring yourself is a traumatic and worrying time. You’ll undoubtedly be in pain, upset and angry that this has happened to you. However, it’s important to remain calm. The property manager will most likely wish to speak with you to perhaps calm the situation and potentially try to pass the blame onto you. Limit your communication with them and decline to give any statements to insurance companies etc until you have your own legal representative present. It’s also advisable to refrain from posting anything about your slip and fall onto social media.
Call an attorney
If you intend to seek compensation and believe that you have a claim due to the negligence of the other party, then you need to get legal help as soon as possible. These kinds of claims aren’t always black and white, they often be complex and require a law firm with lots of experience and knowledge in this area in order to get you the result you want. So make sure you do plenty of research before choosing an attorney to represent you.
A good attorney will handle all the paperwork and jargon, so you don’t have to. They will worry about the deadlines and targets, and they should treat your like the most important client in the world, not just another case file.
