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What to do Immediately After A Slip and Fall Incident
If a slip and fall accident occurs, you’ve no doubt got a lot going through your mind. You may be in pain. You may be feeling angry about the conditions that led to your accident. You might be worrying about what comes next for you and your loved ones. And you’re no doubt going through a lot of confusion, both about what happened and who’s responsible and about how you should handle it.
While situations vary when it comes to slip and fall accidents, there are a few things every incident has in common. You can use these commonalities as a guideline for how to proceed. Understanding these steps will help you be prepared in case you or a loved one should ever slip and fall.
Step One: See a Doctor
This is always the most important thing, because you need to take care of your health. Even if your injuries seem minor, it’s a good idea to be examined by a medical professional, just to be on the safe side. In addition to getting treatment, seeing a doctor allows you to create a formal record of your injury, including when and how it happened. This is useful if you decide to file a claim later. A judge will want to see a doctor’s confirmation that you were injured the way you say you were.
Step Two: Collect the Evidence
This should be done right away, so it might be necessary for a friend or family member to stay at the site of your accident to collect evidence while you see the doctor. Whoever is assigned to this task should be looking for things that contributed to your fall. This could include water or other liquid on the floor, loose carpeting, or uneven concrete. It’s a good idea to take pictures of the environment so you’ll be able to demonstrate later what made it unsafe.
Step Three: Write Down What Happened
While it’s still fresh in your mind, you want to document exactly what happened. Include every detail, even if you don’t think it’s important. The little things may disappear from your memory of the event as time goes on, and you want to be able to work with the most complete picture possible.
As part of your documentation, you should file an incident report with the property owner. This gives both parties an opportunity to inspect the site, and it also establishes another official record of your fall.
Step Four: Collect Your Witnesses
It’s a good idea to have people who will speak to what happened. Approach people on the scene before you leave and ask them for their contact information. You can also ask them for a brief description of what they saw. If you need someone to speak in court on your behalf, you may be able to all on one or more of the people who were around when you fell.
Step Five: Speak to an Attorney
Denver slip and fall attorneys like the team at Lampert & Walsh can help you find the financial recovery you deserve. Working with slip and fall lawyers is the best way to ensure that you get back on your feet quickly. Contact us today.