5 Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall Accident
Slipping and falling is never something that we expect to happen. But understanding what you should do if such an accident occurs is very important because it can greatly impact how you are compensated.
After a slip and fall, you must take certain measures in order to best protect your likelihood of recovery. Here are 5 things to do after a slip-and-fall accident.
1. Obtain Medical Care
One of the best things that you can do immediately after a slip and fall accident is to receive medical care. Seeking medical attention is so important because it not only helps to ensure that you are physically okay, but it also sets up an important foundation for your case.
When you visit a medical professional after a slip and fall accident, the notes that are taken can be utilized to prove your case. Also, a doctor can take a comprehensive look at your body to ensure that you have identified all of your injuries, so that you have a better chance of receiving the compensation you deserve.
2. Observe the Scene
Taking a good, hard, look at the scene of your slip-and-fall accident can help you to identify what it was that actually caused your fall. Whether you slipped on water on the floor of a store, or stepped on a broken stair, observing what is around you at the time of the accident can help you to see what could have been done to prevent your accident.
3. Capture Evidence
If you are able to, after a slip-and-fall accident it can be extremely beneficial to take pictures of the scene. A Smartphone is good enough. Be sure to take a bunch of photos of different things, from different angles and perspectives. Photos can serve as more tangible pieces of evidence to support your claim.
4. Write Everything Down
Since memory naturally fades with time, one of the best things that you can do is to write everything down, all of the information that you receive. If you identify witnesses of your fall, they can be essential to backing your claim.
Therefore, be sure to get their contact information such as name, phone number, address, and email address, as well as what they saw, in case you should want or need to call them to testify on your behalf. If the accident occurs in a store, it is important to inform employees as to what occurred and to see if there is an official report form that you need to file out and/or file to have it as evidence.
5. Consult with a Qualified Attorney
When you have been injured in an accident, your objective is to receive the compensation needed to help make you whole again. This can include compensation for your medical bills, missed time from work, and pain and suffering
However, the opposing party’s goal is to pay you as little as possible. This is why every little thing that you say or do can be used against you. Working with a knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorney can help to handle negotiations with the other party and/or their insurance company. They can help to walk you through the legal process and advise of what to do and not to do in order to help your case.
The Goss Law Firm Is Here to Help
If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip-and-fall accident, or an accident of any kind, The Goss Law Firm can help. To learn more or to schedule a FREE consultation, call the Kansas City Lawyers at the Goss Law Firm at 816-527-8658 today!