What to do When You’ve been Involved in a Slip and Fall Accident

Falling is a normal part of living in a world with gravity and accounts for millions of injuries every year. When a person is injured in a slip or trip and fall accident on someone else’s property, he or she may be entitled to seek damages. Common damages that injured slip and fall victims may seek to recover include: 

• Medical bills
• Rehabilitation expenses
• Prescription drug costs
• Time missed from work
• Affect on ability to earn an income
• Pain and suffering

Only an experienced attorney can tell you exactly what damages you are eligible to seek compensation for after thoroughly evaluating your case. A thorough evaluation includes an investigation of the accident scene, collection of evidence, tracking down witnesses and securing expert testimony as to the dangerous conditions present at the accident scene.

Keep in mind that just because you fall on someone else’s property does not mean that you can automatically seek to recover damages for your injury; you must be able to prove that a property owner was aware of a hazardous surface condition, had time to address the problem and did not take the appropriate action to correct the problem or properly warn people of the hazardous area. This is not always easy to prove; hiring an experienced attorney can greatly increase your chances of receiving the money you need to recover from a slip and fall accident.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a slip or trip and fall accident, it’s important to take proactive measures to ensure your chances of a successful case. Below are some actions you may want to take after being involved in a slip and fall accident:

Seek Medical Attention

It is a good idea to see a medical doctor soon after a slip and fall accident so that you can be made aware of the extent of your injuries and get the care you need. A doctor can not only diagnose and treat your injury, but make you aware of how your injury may affect your life.

Take Pictures

It is important to take pictures of the accident scene as soon as possible after the accident. Pictures should be taken from a variety of angles and distances to properly document the accident scene. Failure to take pictures promptly after the accident can make it difficult to prove that hazardous conditions ever existed as property owners can clean up or fix the problem before you get a chance to document the problem.

Get Witness Contact Information

If anyone witnessed your slip and fall accident, it is important to write down their name, address and phone number so that you can contact them in the future if such testimony is necessary for proving a property owner’s fault.

Report the Accident

If your accident occurred at a retail store or place of business, be sure to alert the manager of your accident before you leave the store. It is important to have documentation of your accident immediately after it happens.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a slip or trip and fall accident, be sure to contact an experienced slip and fall attorney for the advice and legal representation you need to pursue a successful case against a negligent property owner.