Many slip and fall accidents seem minor at first, but they can be severe and result in life-altering injuries.
If you believe your injury was caused by negligence, you may be able to file a claim to obtain compensation for medical expenses and other damages.
However, your actions right after the accident can affect the success of your claim. That is why you should follow the steps below after suffering a slip and fall injury. These steps will help ensure your health and safety and may improve your claim’s chances of success.
After taking these steps, you should contact an experienced slip and fall lawyer in Harrisburg for a free legal consultation. An attorney will be able to determine if you have a viable claim and begin a thorough investigation.
1. Get Medical Treatment Right Away
Even if you think your fall was a minor accident, you should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible. Getting medical treatment immediately not only ensures that you are cared for properly, but also documents your injuries and helps link them to the accident.
If you wait to seek medical treatment, the insurance company is more likely to assume you are not seriously injured or your injuries were caused by something other than the accident.
2. Follow the Doctor’s Orders
Be sure to adhere to the restrictions that your physician places on you. This reduces your risk of aggravating existing injuries or causing new ones. It also reinforces to the insurance company that you are truly hurt.
You must also follow up with the doctor as he or she has required. Follow up appointments are important to ensure that you are healing properly and to document your continued medical care and the progress of your recovery.
3. Keep Notes About Injuries and Treatment
You may not remember important details about your accident weeks or months after it happened. That is why you should document what you remember about the accident as soon as possible, including:
- Where it happened
- When it happened
- How the accident occurred
- What you were doing when it happened
- Who you talked to right after you were injured
You should also take notes on the effects of your personal injury and the progress of your treatment. This can help our attorneys accurately value your claim.
If you talked to any witnesses after the fall, ask for their names and contact information. That way you can contact them in the future if you need witnesses during the legal process.
4. Report the Accident
Do not leave the property without reporting your accident to the property owner. You do not have to go into a lot of detail about what happened, you simply need to tell the property owner that you fell and hurt yourself. You should also note where the accident occurred.
However, you should not give your opinion about what you think caused the fall. The problem with stating your opinions at this point in the process is that you might admit some amount of fault or say something that is untrue or exaggerated. This could hurt your chances of recovering fair compensation.
Reporting the accident can not only help build your case, but also help the property owner address the problem so that someone else does not get hurt in the future.
5. Gather Evidence
If possible, you should also take pictures of where the fall occurred. You should also take your own notes about what you believe caused the fall. Was it a slippery surface? Was there a hazard on the floor? Was the floor uneven?
Contact an Attorney to Review Your Claim
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident, there is a chance it was caused by the property owner’s negligence. That means you might be entitled to compensation for all of your damages.
A personal injury lawyer will be able to help you gather evidence and present your claim to an insurance company or a jury.
The experienced attorneys at our firm have taken on a variety of personal injury cases and know what it takes to have a chance at a favorable outcome.
Call today to learn more about how our attorneys can help you. (717) 888-8888