It happens every day: people experience a slip and fall accident. But what happens if the accident wasn’t your fault? Slip, trip, and fall accidents can happen anywhere, anytime, and to anyone. It’s critical to know what steps to take should an accident happen to you or a loved one—sustaining an injury or trauma after a trip and fall accident continuously ranks as the most common reason for an emergency room visit. More than 16,000 deaths annually are attributed to falls, second only to car crashes in overall fatalities. Experts estimate that more than 300,000 serious injuries happen annually, with children and older adults particularly vulnerable.
The Premise Liability Law mandates that parking lots, homes, walkways, and buildings need to be maintained for safe passage. In a nutshell, premises liability suggests that if you were seriously hurt after slipping, tripping, and falling on someone else’s property because of the owner’s negligence, say due to a snowy walkway or wet floor, you could be entitled to compensation. This could mean time off work, medical bills, and even pain and suffering.
What to do After a Slip, Trip, and Fall Accident
If you or someone you care about has experienced a slip, trip, or fall accident, some steps must be taken immediately following the incident to build a potential legal case.
Here are essential steps to take after a trip and fall accident:
Get a medical diagnosis immediately
Health is the number one priority, whether you or someone you love. If you’ve been hurt, it’s critical to see a doctor immediately so any injury can be professionally documented. These medical records serve as an essential piece of information should you seek compensation for any slip and fall injury. Slip/trip and falls can cause severe injuries like fractures, dislocations, back injuries, brain trauma, and spinal cord issues.
Report the Accident
If you experience a slip and fall accident, you need to get the incident outlined in writing. Wherever you are, no matter if it’s a sidewalk, warehouse, store, or friend’s apartment building, you need to report it to the manager, landlord, or building owner. Getting the details of the incident written down only makes your case stronger. Once you’ve made a written report with a managerial or ownership representative, get a copy for your records before you leave.
Document everything
If you’re considering filing a legal case, you need as much information as possible. Collect names, numbers, addresses, anything relevant from any witness there. These statements can help prove a claim if they offer context on the environment in question. It’s also important to take photos of the accident’s location. Make sure to get multiple angles, stairs, wet or icy patches, anything that could have contributed to the accident. Other details to document should include what you were doing at the time of the accident, what you were wearing, how you felt, and the exact date and time.
If you’re considering legal action, there are a few guidelines you should consider following:
- Decline any statements to insurance companies unless you’ve spoken to an attorney.
- Don’t post anything on social media.
- Don’t place blame, or take any, either.
If you’re considering speaking with an attorney regarding a slip and fall accident, it’s best to look at their track records with wins in these types of cases. Many slip and fall accidents can be hard to prove, so working with a successful, knowledgeable law firm is the best course of action to see a positive outcome.
Due to the complexities of a slip and fall accident case, an experienced slip and fall attorney will help you handle all the confusing legal paperwork. Clients should spend their time focusing on recovery, not dealing with the intricate details of how the legal system administers cases like these. Deadlines matter in cases like these because the window of action is limited to filing a legal claim.
If you’re considering legal action for a slip and fall, don’t hesitate to reach out. Hurt? Get Help. Our team of experts is ready to answer any questions you may have regarding the legality of your incident.