Six Important Steps To Take After A Slip And Fall Accident

Boom! You are walking along, minding your own business, and all of the sudden,you’re on the ground. And while you may be embarrassed with a bruised ego, you may also be experiencing more serious injuries.

No one ever means to slip and fall, and while sometimes it may be a total accident, other times it may be due to a property owner’s negligence.In these cases,you have the right to seek compensation for your pain and suffering.

After a slip and fall accident, it is imperative to follow these six steps as they can impact the success of your personal injury claim.

1. Call 911 and Seek Medical Treatment

Your health should be the number one priority following a slip and fall.A medical professional will be able to look you over for initial injuries, complete x-rays,or make sure that you receive the care you need immediately.

Documentation is crucial to your case as you move forward seeking out compensation.A police report can also document the scene of the fall. Reports can indicate the conditions of the area, such as deep cracks in the sidewalk, or water on the ground. Officers can also start speaking to witnesses to the fall.

2. Document Everything

If you can, make sure to document the scene yourself.Taking pictures and videos will provide visual documentation of the area moments after the fall. Also, make sure to take pictures of your injuries. Make sure to share these with your injury attorney.

Remember to also take note, either through video/pictures or through writing, of the details that depict the slip and fall.

Write down the exact time and date
What you were doing right before the fall
The conditions that contributed to the fall (icy patches, cracked sidewalk,no warning signs,etc.)

Additionally, it is a good idea to preserve evidence—place the shoes and clothing you were wearing during the fall in a safe place or take a photo of what you were wearing at the time.You may need these later as evidence.

3. Continue Medical Assistance & Care

Even if you met with a medical professional when you called 911, it is still a good idea to follow up with your regular doctor to be evaluated for any issues that may have manifested later, such as a concussion or torn meniscus.

Many bodily injuries may take hours—or even days—to show up and can worsen over time. If you intend to make an injury claim, you need to have proper documentation of any received, ongoing medical care.

4. Start a File and Journal

We know that an injury can be life-changing. Starting a journal to show your day-to-day conditions, emotions, and improvement is important to show and share with your attorney. It will be hard to look back and remember the important details later.

Additionally, start a file with all your important documents. This can include the police report, hospital/medical bills and reports, correspondences between the property owner, leave of absence notes from work,and any other relevant information.

Do not share any information about your fall or injuries on social media, as tempting as it may be. Insurance adjusters and attorneys routinely search social media to see if they can find any proof of inconsistencies that they can use to discredit your claim.

Also refrain from giving any recorded statements or signing any documents, whether this is to an insurance company or the property manager until you have spoken to your lawyer.Anything you say about the slip and fall can be used against you and your claim.

6. Speak with an Experienced Lawyer

It is important to understand your legal options after a slip and fall. No matter the size of the fall you are suffering from, you should not have to worry about dealing with insurance companies, property owners, and medical bills while you are trying to recover.

The sooner you speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer like those at Mickey Keenan, P.A.,the easier it will be to start filing your case and getting you the compensation you deserve.

Call After Your Slip And Fall

When it comes to a slip and fall accident,this was NOT your fault. You did not cause your injuries. You should not have to pay for anything that was related to your accident;this should be left to the negligent party.Do not get stuck paying medical bills for an accident caused by someone else’s negligence.At Mickey Keenan, P.A., our slip and fall accident attorneys will fight to get you the compensation you are entitled to.

With Mickey Keenan, P.A., you will get an experienced and knowledgeable team of lawyers by your side from start to finish.Here, you’re like family to us and we take your healing, care, and case seriously. Call our Tampa injury law firm today for a free case review at 813-871-1300.