Hurt in a Slip-and-Fall? Take These 5 Steps Immediately!
Slip-and-fall accidents can happen just about anywhere at any time. Sometimes these accidents are unavoidable and not anyone’s fault. In many cases, however, the slip was caused by the negligence of another party, and you may be entitled to compensation for your medical costs, missed work, or even pain and suffering. In order to protect your legal rights, you need to take some specific steps as quickly as possible after the accident occurs.
Get Proper Medical Attention
The first thing you do should always be to seek proper medical attention. Even if you don’t think that the injuries are extremely serious, it is best to have a medical professional check you out since some injuries won’t present themselves for hours or even days after the fact. Back and neck injuries, for example, often don’t start causing problems for some time after the fall. Protecting your health is absolutely essential regardless of any potential lawsuits.
Get Copies of Medical Records
When getting the medical treatment, ask your doctors or other medical professionals for copies of any treatment you receive. Once they are ready, get receipts for any payments that you (or your insurance company) made to the hospital or doctor’s office. These things could offer critical information should a lawsuit occur.
File a Report (And Get Documentation)
Once you have been released from the hospital, you will want to file a report with the owner or manager of the location where the slip-and-fall occurred. This will alert them to the potential danger to other visitors so that the problem can be fixed. When you notify the responsible party, attempt to get a written acknowledgment that you made the report.
Gather Evidence
Attempt to gather any evidence of the issue that is available. This could include pictures of a broken sidewalk, statements (or at least contact information) from witnesses, and if applicable, police reports. Any information you can gather that is related to the accident will be helpful when evaluating whether or not a legal case can be made.
Contact an Attorney
It is almost impossible for someone without significant legal experience to accurately determine whether or not a lawsuit is appropriate after a slip-and-fall accident. If you were injured after a fall, it makes sense to talk with an attorney and have them review your case. You can contact us to schedule a free consultation so you can go over all your options and see how to best proceed.