The Steps You Should Take After a Slip and Fall Accident?

Slips or trips and falls can happen to anyone in any place. It can happen in high traffic places like the Sawgrass Mall or even at your local Publix Supermarket. A person simply falling because they were not paying attention does not mean they have a case.

But what if the fall was preventable? What if the fall was due to another party’s negligence? Did the owner or an employee know of the spill, worn area, spot or slippery dangerous surface and did nothing about it? It could have been a slippery surface, wet stairs or building code violations, like no handrails or an improper stair height or depth.

In these types of cases, an insurance company and court will look to see if the accident that occurred was due to your negligence.

If you are injured in a slip and fall accident, the following steps can help you win your case:

• Get help – If you fall hard and find it difficult to sit up, stay down and call for the paramedics. You could have a head injury or spinal cord injury. By seeking the appropriate medical attention, you are not only taking the proper medial precautions, but you are also getting injuries documented by doctors. Even if you feel the injuries may not be that bad, you should still seek help. Delaying this can negatively affect your case. Make sure you mention all of your medical complaints to the doctor – what may seem like a little pain now may be much worse tomorrow.
• File a report – File a report with the store owner or manager, but do not give an extensive statement to them.
• Take detailed notes – What time was it? Where did you fall? What was the condition of where you fell? Were there hand rails? If the weather was relevant, what was it like? Who were the employees or witnesses? What clothes were you wearing – particularly your shoes? Make sure you also take notes of what you were doing when the accident occurred. Remembering this will help when the business claims you were not paying attention.
• Take photographs of the accident scene – This includes the area you fell, its conditions and the lighting that was on when the incident occurred.

Jurors tend to be skeptical of slip and fall cases, but following these simple steps can prove the incident was due to a hazardous environment and not your negligence.

Don’t let an insurance company accuse you of being careless. It’s time to contact our firm for your free consultation. The slip and fall injury lawyers at Madalon Law are here to protect your rights.