What to Do After a Slip and Fall
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, you may be wondering what to do next. Here are a few important things to keep in mind about what to do after a slip and fall injury.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall | Report the Accident
This could involve calling the police (non-emergency) if you don’t have a serious injury, notifying the manager on duty in a retail establishment, or informing the homeowner. The police can take an informational report that documents what happened. Store managers can also create an incident report. While a homeowner may not take an actual report, it can be reported to their insurance company.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall | Get Medical Treatment
If you hit your head, break a bone, hurt your neck, hurt your back, or have another serious injury, call 911. Those are medical emergencies. If you have an injury that you don’t believe is a medical emergency or even if you don’t think that you’re hurt at all, you still need medical attention. You could be hurt and not know it because of the adrenaline rush that often occurs during an accident. Minor injuries can get significantly worse if they are not treated. Many internal injuries don’t have symptoms until it’s too late.
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What to Do After a Slip and Fall | Gather Evidence
It’s important that you document the scene. This includes where you were and why the fall happened. You can also take pictures of your injuries. You will also want to get contact information from any witnesses. This includes the name, address, and telephone number for any person who saw what happened. This information can be helpful for the insurance company and for your lawyer. Also, you don’t want to throw away the shoes or wash the clothes you were wearing at the time. Your shoes and clothes could be evidence that can be used to prove negligence.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall | Be Careful What You Say
Don’t admit any guilt. Don’t blame yourself. Don’t argue about how the slip and fall was caused. It’s important that you protect your potential claim. If you accept any sort of responsibility, even if it is just a slip of the tongue, you could reduce the likelihood that you’ll receive financial compensation. Instead, focus only on relaying the facts.
You will need to hire an attorney who has experience with slip and fall cases. If you have been injured in a slip and fall and are looking for compensation, please contact our experienced New York Slip and Fall Lawyer to schedule a free consultation today.