There are several important things to do after a slip and fall accident. Knowing these steps could improve your chance of recovering compensation for your injuries or put your recovery at risk entirely.
The outcome of your slip and fall case is important. Given what is at stake, it is essential to give yourself every opportunity to improve your chances of a successful outcome. The following steps could help you maximize your financial recovery after a slip and fall accident.
Make a Report of Your Accident
You will have an opportunity to file a formal report after a fall on someone else’s property in many situations. In any case, you should notify the property owner of the fall as soon as possible.
When your fall occurs at a business or on government property, you should have the option to file a formal report for the incident. Often, this involves putting a report into writing yourself on an official form. In some cases, you might have to give your report orally to a manager or employee. When that happens, they should put the report in writing themselves. It is important to your case to ensure the report is in writing, as it could be helpful to your slip and fall accident attorneys during your case.
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Seek Medical Care for Your Injuries
It is important to seek medical care immediately after a fall. Even if your injuries seem minor, it is best to avoid any delays in speaking with a doctor. Some injuries are not apparent immediately after slipping and falling. It could take hours or even days for the symptoms of your injuries to develop. The sooner you seek out medical treatment, the sooner you could be on the path to healing from your injuries.
Seeing a doctor right away could also strengthen your personal injury case. Your medical records could serve as strong evidence in your case, and the fact that you sought treatment immediately after your fall lends credence to your claims. If there is a long delay between your fall and your medical treatment, the defendant is likely to argue your injuries are unrelated to the fall entirely.
Follow the Advice of Your Doctor
It is not enough to go to a doctor once in the immediate aftermath of a slip and fall accident. Once your doctor evaluates you and provides you with a course of treatment, it is crucial that you follow that treatment plan to the letter.
This is important for your health, as keeping up with your treatment plan could speed up your recovery time. It is also important for your personal injury case. You have an obligation to mitigate your damages, which means preventing your injuries from worsening unnecessarily. If your failure to stick with your treatment plan results in additional damages, the property owner could object to them based on your failure to mitigate.
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Document Every Aspect of Your Slip and Fall Accident
Take down as much information as you can about the facts surrounding your fall. While the fall might be fresh on your mind, the details could fade over time. When possible, take photographs of the scene where you slipped and fell and any hazards that led to your injury.
What’s more, you could benefit from taking notes about everything that happened up to the time of the accident. These notes could help you remember what happened in the future. Months or even years could pass between your slip and fall accident and the resolution of your legal case, so it is vital that you make notes that could help you refresh your memory.
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Avoid Discussing Your Case
It is vital to avoid the inclination to discuss the specifics of your case. This is especially true when it comes to representatives of the other side’s insurance company. Insurance adjusters are likely to reach out to you shortly after your incident. They are not doing so to check into your physical condition. Instead, it is their hope they can either settle your claim for less than it is worth or obtain a statement from you that absolves the property owner of any fault.
For that reason, avoid discussing your fall with anyone outside of your legal counsel or your doctor. Do not give recorded statements to the insurance company, as you are under no obligation to speak with them. If communication is necessary, your slip and fall lawyer could contact the insurance company on your behalf.
Speak with a Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer to Learn More Today
One of the most important steps you could take after a slip and fall accident is speaking with an attorney. Our firm understands how to hold negligent property owners accountable, and we are prepared to do so in your case. Contact Bressman Law for your free consultation about the steps you should take after a slip and fall accident.
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