4 Important Things To Do Immediately After a Slip and Fall Accident

More than 8 million people are hospitalized as a result of a fall in a single year.

While in some cases the fall was your fault, (like if you were walking and texting) other times, it was the result of someone else’s negligence. You don’t want to be financially responsible for a slip and fall accident you didn’t cause — and were victimized by.

In the immediate aftermath of a slip and fall accident, you’ll likely be in a bit of a shock. You may also be in a serious amount of physical pain, which will also make it difficult to think clearly about what to do next.

That’s why planning ahead is so important — especially if you want to take your slip and fall case to court.

In this post, we’ll tell you what to do after a slip and fall accident.

1. Collect as Much Evidence as Physically Possible

The first thing that you need to do after a slip and fall accident?

Gather as much evidence as you can. While of course, this will depend on the extent of your injuries, if you’re still conscious and can communicate and move safely, it’s important to take action.

If possible, take photographs and videos of not only your injuries, but also the environment in which you fell.

Take note of what you were doing before the accident, as well as whether or not you were carrying anything in your hands or were distracted in any way. It’s important to be truthful here: remember that, especially when it comes to commercial properties, businesses can and will review security footage.

Even set aside the clothing and shoes you had on during the fall for a later date.

Finally, be certain that you’ve collected the names, statements, and contact information of anyone who witnessed your slip and fall.

2. Report Your Incident to the Proper Authority

Once you’ve collected as much evidence as you can, you’ll need to make sure that you report your accident to the proper authority.

First of all, determine if you fell on private or commercial property. You should also think about whether you could have done anything to prevent the fall, or if there was no possible way you could have identified the risk beforehand.

For example, if you were trespassing on private property, you may not have a case.

But if you were doing your grocery shopping at your local store, and slipped on a poorly maintained floor? You will likely be able to take your case to trial. (In fact, problems with flooring materials and maintenance result in more than 2 million falls each year.)

If you know the accident wasn’t your fault, the property owner will need to fill out an accident report. In most cases, they won’t exactly be eager to do this. You’ll likely need to contact the police in order to report the incident, in addition to filing a complaint against the property owner.

3. Get Medical Attention

It goes without saying that getting medical attention immediately after a slip and fall accident is incredibly important.

Even if you don’t feel as though you have any injuries, we strongly suggest that you go and get yourself checked out anyway. Medical professionals may be able to identify internal injuries, and prevent any injuries you weren’t aware of from getting worse.

As you might have expected, getting medical help after a slip and fall isn’t just about protecting your health.

Especially if you plan to work with slip and fall accident lawyers, you’ll need to provide them — and the property manager responsible — with your medical records. This will help you to strengthen your case.

Make sure that you also hold onto any medical bills you receive. You may be entitled to having them covered partially or in full by the person or company responsible for your slip and fall accident.

4. Hire a Slip and Fall Accident Attorney

The final thing that you need to do if you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident?

Get the best legal representation possible.

Especially if you’re going up against a larger company with seemingly limitless resources, those companies can and will do everything in their power to disprove your case.

An attorney will help to present the strongest possible evidence and will ensure that you follow court proceedings to the letter. You simply don’t want to attempt representing yourself on your own — especially when you’re already in severe physical pain.

Let an attorney fight on your behalf.

This website gives you a more detailed idea of the qualifications and traits you should look for in an experienced slip and fall accident attorney.

Make sure that you’re familiar with their trial record, that you understand their fee structure, and that you’ve spoken with past clients about their experiences with the attorney you’re considering.

Need an Attorney After a Slip and Fall Accident?

We hope that this post has helped you to understand the four most important things that you should do in the aftermath of a slip and fall accident.

Above all, remember that having the best possible legal representation on your side will make it easier for you to get the results you deserve.

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