In the moments after a slip and fall accident, it is common to feel disoriented, confused, and even shocked. You were just going about your business when, all of a sudden, you lost your footing and careened toward the ground. While pain and even embarrassment may influence you to leave the scene immediately, there are several steps you should take after a slip and fall accident to make sure you receive the medical care and financial compensation you need to recover from this type of personal injury accident.
At Woods & Thompson, P.A. in the Twin Cities, we care about each and every individual who sustains a personal injury and will work diligently to make sure they receive the help that they need. In today’s post, we’ll be looking into what you should do directly following a slip and fall accident. If you’re looking for representation after your accident, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers.
Seek Medical Attention
The first thing you should do after a slip and fall accident is to seek medical attention immediately. There are several reasons to do this, including:
- You receive the care you need right away
- It immediately documents your injuries
- It proves the timing and cause of your injuries
Certain injuries can develop over time, while others may need extensive care to recover from. On top of that, a defendant may try to argue that you sustained your injuries from another incident. By seeking medical attention right away, you’re able to document the extent of your injuries and settle any dispute about how you sustained them.
By seeking medical attention right away — and continuing to seek medical attention as necessary — you’re able to build a more complete case for your slip and fall accident.
Identify the Cause
After a slip and fall accident, it’s important to inspect the scene and determine what caused the incident. Common causes are signs that are placed in the way of foot traffic, moisture on the floor, damage to the floor, and overcrowding. While these are important to keep in mind, there are a variety of things that could cause a slip and fall accident.
When you’re able to identify the cause of your accident right away, it ensures that more evidence can be gathered surrounding the incident. It also prevents shop owners from eliminating the cause before you can point out the problem.
Document & Photograph Evidence
There are a couple of different ways in which you can gather evidence to build your case, both of which are important and can help your personal injury lawyer represent you better.
Written Accounts
Before details start to fade, take a moment to write down as much detail about what led up to, what caused, and what happened after your slip and fall accident. This is a good time to include witnesses of the accident, the initial pain or sensations you felt upon falling, and how people responded to your fall.
Continue to write things down as you remember them and as your injuries develop. As we mentioned, some injuries develop over time or are not immediately apparent, so keeping track of your symptoms will help build your case.
Photographs
Offering an oral account of the events that transpired leading to your personal injury is one thing, but photographic evidence is nearly impossible to dispute. Take photos of what caused your accident, where you sustained injuries, and even clothing that was damaged or torn as a result of your slip and fall. Don’t be picky when photographing, either; take photos of everything around you where you fell.
When you meet with a personal injury lawyer, they’ll be able to identify which photos will be most effective in proving your case. The jury also likes to see photos to back up your story and other eyewitness accounts.
Gather Witnesses
If your accident occurred at a business, there are likely several witnesses to your fall. On top of your own story and photographs, asking witnesses to share their version of the events can help verify your story and what happened.
Make sure to ask people for their name and contact information so that you or your personal injury lawyer can receive a statement from them. If they’re willing to, they can provide you with a written statement right away. Again, details can fade quickly, so this written account right after your accident will help support your case.
Make a Report
Making an official report of your accident with a business shows that you take your injuries very seriously. When providing an official statement, don’t embellish any details — simply report what happened and provide all vital information necessary, such as:
- What caused the accident?
- How were you injured?
- Whether or not you spoke to witnesses
By having an official claim on file with the business you were injured at, you provide another piece of evidence that your injuries were severe enough to report and that they did, in fact, occur where and how you said they did.
Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
While you may be confident that you’ve documented your injuries thoroughly and you can successfully defend yourself, it’s still best to leave it to the professionals. Personal injury lawyers like ours at Woods & Thompson, P.A. have experience defending a variety of personal injury cases — slip and fall accidents included. We know what a jury is looking for, arguments that the defense will represent, and key pieces of information that can help prove your case.
If you’ve sustained a personal injury from a slip and fall accident, contact our personal injury lawyers today to schedule a free consultation.