After a slip and fall injury, your quick and strategic actions will dictate how quickly you recover and whether you recover fully financially. So if you have the misfortune to become a victim of someone else’s negligence in a slip and fall accident, here are the important steps you should take.
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible
- Document the scene
- Avoid giving a statement until you’ve spoken to an attorney
We’ll take a deeper dive into each of these steps you should take to provide greater insights into the intricacies of each step.
1. Seek Medical Attention as Soon as Possible
If your injuries require attention immediately, you should get to the emergency room quickly. Ideally, that means riding in an ambulance to ensure you get attention as fast as possible.
Some injuries don’t present themselves for a few days or even weeks. But you shouldn’t wait that long. See your general practitioner as soon as possible after a slip and fall accident for an assessment regardless of how you’re feeling.
This is a crucial step in the process because it both ensures you get timely medical attention and helps you prove that your injuries are related to the accident in question.
2. Document the Scene
If you’re well enough, pause for a moment to document the scene. In situations of slip and fall or trip and fall accidents in someone else’s home, this part can be a bit uncomfortable.
Your friend or family member will want to know what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Avoid accusations and just state that you’re collecting information to give to your providers, should you need it.
In the case of a slip and fall accident on business property, you might need to file the accident by completing a form. Each business will have a different process, but be sure you aren’t signing anything or giving a formal statement before talking to an attorney.
3. Avoid Giving a Statement Until You’ve Spoken to an Attorney
Providing a formal statement is something that could be used against you later during a personal injury case. This includes giving a statement to the homeowner, business owner, or insurance company.
No matter how friendly someone seems to be during all your conversations in the moments after the accident, don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. Keep your guard up and only answer essential questions from law enforcement.
Don’t elaborate or add details the officer doesn’t ask for. The less you provide before talking to an attorney, the better.
Once you’re well enough to engage in an initial consultation with an attorney, you should set up a discussion. Talking to an attorney does not mean you must file a lawsuit. It just means you’ll have the information necessary to proceed in the case with caution.
Liable Parties in Slip and Fall Cases
The two most common types of slip and fall cases involve business properties and government properties. They happen when the team who should oversee the safety of the premises fails to do so.
This happens when they know about a hazard but don’t take the proper precautions or when they should have known about the hazard.
But slip and fall accidents can also happen on private property when your friend or family member fails to alert you to a hazard within their home or complete the maintenance necessary to keep guests in their home safe.
Regardless of where your slip and fall accident happened, including incidents in Carmel, Stewart & Stewart, your trusted Carmel slip and fall lawyer, can help you protect your financial interests and avoid paying for the medical bills, missed work, and other inconveniences you’ve suffered due to someone else’s negligence. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.