One of the most common types of personal injury cases represented by Saeedian Law Group is slip and fall accidents. Although it may seem like a small trip or accidental fall isn’t a big deal, many people who slip and fall suffer from significant injuries. Basically, the law states that if you slip and fall as a result of someone else’s negligence, the other party is liable for your injuries, which are referred to as premise liability. Premise liability cases are generally as easy to prove as many other types of personal injury cases. Following a slip and fall accident, there are several steps you’ll need to take in order to protect your potential claim. Here are some tips on what to do following a slip and fall accident.
Report the Accident
If you get hurt in a trip and fall accident, it’s important that you report your accident to the property owner or another responsible person, such as a manager immediately. If you’re on commercial property when you get hurt, such as a department store, report your accident to the person that is highest in charge and on the property at the time of your accident. If you’re on public property, such as a local park, and your injuries aren’t severe enough to call 9-1-1, report it to the city that day or as soon as possible following the accident. Although delaying reporting your accident doesn’t legally prevent you from filing a claim for your injuries, reporting the accident quickly will assist in the legitimacy of your claims.
Talk to Witnesses
If there were any witnesses present at the time of your accident, it’s important to get their personal information, including full name, address, and phone number. When you are filing a claim for a slip and fall accident, witnesses can be extremely critical for your case. If the witnesses leave before you are able to gather their contact information, try to remember or write down what they looked like, what they were wearing, and where they were in proximity to you at the time of the accident. This information may be helpful if a video camera was being used on the property.
Take Photos
It may be difficult to take photos, but you should use your cell phone to attempt to get as many photos as possible immediately after the accident. If you are unable to stand up, take photos from various angles while you are lying on the ground. If someone is with you, ask them to also take photos of the scene. This is especially important if you slipped and fell on ice or snow because more snowfall, melting ice and etc. can instantly change the way the scene was when you fell.
Get Medical Treatment
If you think you have been seriously injured, which includes hitting your head or landing on your back, ask to be taken to the local emergency room. Even if you don’t think your injuries warrant a trip to the emergency room, it’s important to go to your doctor or nearest clinic as soon as possible afterward. Many injuries may not show up right away, so getting medical treatment immediately may help to prevent the risk of you suffering from serious injuries later on. While getting medical treatment, make sure to explain in detail to medical staff how you got hurt. For instance, if you slipped on a wet staircase and hurt your back, the medical records will show that you sought immediate treatment instead of waiting days when you back started to hurt later.
If you are injured on a commercial property, you may be asked to fill out and sign an accident report. The law doesn’t require you to do this, but if you do fill it out make sure the information you provide is accurate. Following the accident, you will most likely get a visit or a phone call from the insurance adjuster, it is important that you not give a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster. Make sure you attend all of your medical appointments and keep records/receipts of all appointments, treatments, and medications provided for your injury. The most important thing to do following a slip and fall accident is to contact your personal injury attorney as soon as possible.