One of the most common types of personal premises-related accidents people suffer is slip and fall accidents. These accidents may seem minor when you’re not knowledgeable about them, but they are some of the more dangerous (and even deadly) accidents that happen every day in the United States. However, by understanding the process around slip and fall accidents, you can protect yourself. To ensure you can do just this, here are five steps you must take after a slip and fall premises accident:
1. Seek Any Needed Medical Care
Before any other step, you need to ensure you’re getting any medical care that you may need. If you suspect you’re injured at all, you need to call for medical assistance. If other people have been injured in your accident, you need to help them seek help as well. Not all symptoms from slip and fall accidents are immediately noticeable, however, so you may want to seek out a medical examination in any circumstance where you find yourself involved in a slip and fall accident. If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, and need help navigating the legal claims process around it, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers will provide stellar assistance, and guide you through this challenging time in your life.
2. Report the Slip and Fall Accident
To ensure you’re legally protected, and that your insurance claims (if any) can be adequately fulfilled, you need to report the slip and fall accident to the proper authorities ASAP. Reporting the incident to property owners, managers, landlords, and the police are all important steps in getting justice (as well as any compensation that you may be entitled to). Be sure to get a written report that will be easy to authorize and share later on. Make the report as detailed as possible to ensure you will have clear evidence of what occurred during your slip and fall accident. Access to this information will become invaluable once lawyers or other parties get involved with the legal/financial aspects of your slip and fall accident.
3. Document the Slip and Fall Accident
As you handle reporting your slip and fall accident, you must also document the incident as much as humanly possible. Seeking assistance during this step is highly recommended, significantly if you’re seriously injured during the initial moments of the slip and fall accident. Written statements are once again essential, as these will ensure your attorney has the material they need to get you a win in your personal injury lawsuit case. Photographing the scene, your injuries, and any hazards involved in the slip and fall accident becomes important as well. Make sure you document a personal statement about the incident to finalize the documentation process effectively. Be sure to save these documents in a place (physically and digitally) where they will be safe, easy to access, and out of reach of those who’d rather it not see the light of day.
4. Be Quiet and Vigilance
When you are contacted by a property owner, another party’s insurance adjusters, or other inquiring parties post-accident, you need to be vigilant about protecting yourself. Staying quiet, unless you are lawfully required to speak about the accident, is always the best strategy. An attorney's input and guidance during this critical step can make or break your ability to successfully litigate the slip and fall accident that you’ve suffered. The process ahead of you is going to be difficult, but with the right help, you’ll get the justice you’re seeking.
5. Hire a Knowledgeable Personal Injury Attorney
Without a knowledgeable, professional, and compassionate personal injury attorney by your side, the process of navigating the fallout from your slip and fall accident can be overwhelming. By hiring a personal injury attorney that you trust, you can rest easy and recover from your injuries as the lawsuit ahead of you plays out. Because of the complexities of these lawsuits, trying to represent yourself can lead to disaster. Being alert and proactive when documenting the accident, and hiring a personal injury attorney to represent you will get you through this difficult, trying time successfully.
You Deserve Restitution
Because of the intense personal injuries that are often caused by slip and fall accidents, victims almost always need restitution to help them with medical bills, for their suffering, and so that they can get back to a normal life. With a quality attorney by your side and a solid knowledge of how the process ahead of you is going to play out, you’ll be much more likely to find success with your personal injury lawsuit claim.
