It’s inevitable – many of us go through little slip and fall accidents more than once in our lives. However, sometimes, the injury may be more serious and at no fault of your own. Public places such as walkways, buildings, and parking lots are required by law to be safe for travel and walking. Even transient situations like spills, items dropping and the like that need to be cleaned up but were not causing a slip or trip and fall can cause serious injury. This is known as premises liability, which is defined as an entitlement to compensation if you are seriously hurt after a slip and fall accident on someone’s property due to their negligence. Thus, in such a situation, it is important to know what steps to follow to safeguard yourself. Sokoloff & Weinstein, expert personal injury lawyers in Vero Beach, outline the steps to take after a slip and fall accident:
Medical treatment
Seeking medical attention is not only essential for your health but also to build your slip and fall case. Each day that you wait to contact a medical professional reduces the value of your case as insurance companies use this as an excuse to disregard your injuries. It is also important to have medical records and documents as these are essential in building your case further.
It is also important to attend all follow up appointments and treatments with your doctor for the jury to understand the extent of your injuries.
Reporting the accident
Wherever the accident has occurred, it is imperative that you report it to the owner, building manager or whoever is in charge. If you were taken by emergency personnel to the hospital, ensure a friend or family member reports the accident instead. Again, ask to get the report of the accident in writing before you leave the premises and make copies or take photos of it too. If an incident report is done, get a copy!
It is important to remember that you are not obliged to have detailed discussions with the business owners or manager regarding your accident. As a matter of fact, it is recommended to limit all communication with them.
Document everything
While documenting, begin by taking photos of the exact location you fell in including wide and close-up angles. Again remember to take photos of what happened on your smart phone. Ensure you include any additional conditions or circumstances that contributed to your accident such as wet floors or sticky/slipper patches. If you are too hurt to photograph or document in the moment, ensure a trusted family member or friend does the same. These photographs are essential to build your case and for your lawyer to evaluate.
Next, collect names, addresses and phone numbers of everyone involved including potential witnesses. Remember to take names and contact information of witnesses. Store the clothes and shoes you wore during the accident in a safe place as these could be used as relevant evidence in a later stage.
Call an attorney
Finally, contact expert personal injury lawyers such as Sokoloff & Weinstein who are adept at slip and fall accidents for your best chance at winning your rightful compensation.
For more information on slip and fall accident cases in Vero Beach, contact Sokoloff & Weinstein today!
