Slip and fall accidents can strike anywhere at any time – stores, sidewalks, or your own home could all present risks of falls, which result in injuries that require medical treatment and even complex legal cases. Knowing your rights as well as understanding the steps to take after experiencing one can be immensely helpful when recovering compensation for injuries sustained as a result of one.
Here’s Our Handy Guide That Will Assist With That Journey
1. Seek Medical Attention Promptly
Your health and safety must always come first, which means after any slip and fall, you must seek medical care right away, even if you do not believe you are injured immediately. It may take up to 72 hours before certain injuries such as concussions, fractures, or sprains display symptoms – prompt medical treatment will ensure that these injuries are documented and treated effectively – also making medical records essential if filing a claim later on for compensation of injuries suffered due to negligence of others or negligence of others.
2. Report Your Slip and Fall
Once medical treatment has been provided, you must report the slip and fall accident to both the property owner and manager as soon as possible. In a business or public space setting, notify staff and request they file an incident report immediately – be sure to get a copy or at least details in writing! For personal residences, such as someone’s home, notify them about what has happened immediately so they may document it if need be; reporting will help create a record of what occurred should there be claims or lawsuits later down the line.
3. Document the Scene of an Accident
As soon as possible after your accident occurs, gather as much evidence as possible from the scene. Take photos of where it happened as well as any hazards which may have contributed to it (e.g., wet floor, uneven pavement or poorly lit areas), obtain contact details for witnesses, and determine whether they would provide statements – the more evidence there is available, the stronger your compensation claim will be.
4. Document Your Injuries
Document the severity and scope of your injuries as well as any treatments or medical care received following an accident, such as doctor visits, hospital stays, medications, physical therapy sessions, and any related expenses. Also helpful is keeping track of any physical limitations or pain experienced as a result of the incident; keeping such records will help demonstrate damages accurately so you receive appropriate compensation.
This article was written by Alla Tenina. Alla is a top personal injury lawyer in Orange County CA, and the founder of Tenina Law. She has experience in bankruptcies, real estate planning, and complex tax matters. The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. This website contains links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; the ABA and its members do not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.