What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident

As a property or business owner, it is their responsibility to make sure that everyone on their premises is safe. Providing a safe environment includes identifying potential hazards and warning and protecting against those hazards. When this is neglected, a wide variety of injuries can occur. One of these injuries is slip and fall accidents.

As with any injury, they can be serious and sometimes permanent. This leads to expensive medical bills that can leave you in debt. If you ever experience a slip and fall accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to compensation. Outlined below are the steps you should take after experiencing a slip and fall.

Call the Police or Medical Assistance

Call the police to report the accident. If there is any speculation that you could be hurt, call paramedics for medical assistance. You will have to have any injuries documented in order to receive compensation for them. If they ask you if you are hurt, never say no. Instead, say that you are unsure if you’re ok or not. Sometimes injuries aren’t realized until later and this way you are not held liable for your statement of being uninjured.

Document Evidence

It’s vital that you gather evidence immediately and document the incident extensively. If there were any witnesses to the accident, be sure to get their names and contact information right away. Use a cell phone or camera to take photos of the scene. Be sure to include in the photos what it was that caused you to slip and fall. If you don’t have a camera, make sure that your notes are very detailed and descriptive. Include the following things in your description of what happened:

Date and time of the incident
Location of the accident – address and location within the premises
Names and contact information of any witnesses
Names of people to whom you reported accident
Name of property owner
Weather conditions
What you were wearing

Be sure to keep any evidence pertaining to the accident such as the clothes and shoes that you were wearing.

Contact an Attorney Immediately

You should contact a lawyer immediately. It’s very important to your case that you let your lawyer know as soon as possible. Legally, there are certain limitations that outline time constraints on when you can and can’t file a case. Also, do not sign any papers or contact the insurance company before speaking with a lawyer. Insurance companies will often times agree to pay for medical bills but that may only include the initial treatment.

If you experience this type of accident, consider all of the damages that you’ve been subjected to such as medical bills, lost wages from being out of work and permanent health damage. Be sure to contact a lawyer so that you don’t lose compensation for these things.

This article was written by Michael R. Casper, a personal injury lawyer located in Gainesville, GA. Michael R. Casper is dedicated to winning personal injury cases and recovering fair money damages for his clients.