What To Do After A Slip And Fall Accident
If you have suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident caused by a property owner’s negligence, you could be able to pursue a personal injury claim against the owner for the losses your injuries have caused you to suffer. Not only can a victim suffer new injuries, but the fall can also exacerbate existing injuries. All of this can lead to expensive medical bills and loss of income from being unable to work. A slip and fall accident attorney can evaluate your case and discuss what legal options you may have.
In the meantime, the following are steps you should take if you have been injured in order help preserve evidence and build your case:
Seek Medical Attention
When you have suffered a slip and fall, you may think you are only shaken up a bit and not realize that you have actually sustained an injury. It can often take hours, if not days, for certain types of injuries to reveal symptoms, such as a soft tissue injury or concussion. This is why if you have any suspicion at all that something is not quite right after the fall you should immediately seek medical treatment. If you delay, it could actually cause your injury to worsen and put your health at risk.
A delay in treatment can also be used against you by the landlord’s insurance company or attorney should you decided to pursue a damage claim. They may try to accuse you of faking your injury or claim that you were actually injured somewhere else.
Take Photos of the Slip and Fall Accident Scene
One of the most critical components of a slip and fall accident case is proving the cause of the slip. This is why it is crucial to obtain photos of the area right away. If you are physically unable to get photos, have a family member or friend take the photos for you. Do not delay because the landlord could quickly repair the issues that caused the accident and then you will have no way of physically proving the issue existed and caused your fall.
Keep a Journal about Your Injuries and Recovery
Journaling your injury and recover can be powerful evidence in a slip and fall accident case. Writing down details of the restrictions the injuries caused, the level of pain and how it interfered in your life, and how the injury affected your ability to work can be used by your attorney to prove how much of an impact the injury had on your life.
Avoid Social Media
Social media has become an integral part of so many people’s life. We post everything, both the good and bad that happen to us. Many people who have been injured in accidents are tempted to post all the details on social media, but those postings can be used against you by the other side.
In fact, any postings can be used against you, even ones you post that have nothing to do with your injury. For example, photos that you may post that show you having a good time with family or friends could be used by the other side to try to prove that you really were not suffering any pain that limited your ability to enjoy life.
Thank you to our friends and contributors at JOHNSTON | MARTINEAU, PLLP