Skip to main content What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
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What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
In theory, it is simple: if another is responsible for your slip and fall injury, they must make you “whole” again and pay for your damages. However, getting what you deserve can be challenging, especially if you are taking on a mighty grocery or restaurant chain.
Regardless of whether your fall injury occurred in a restaurant, store, government building, or elsewhere, you have rights and could qualify for damages, such as medical expenses, wage loss, and more.
Morgan & Morgan’s dedicated slip and fall lawyers have your back. We can assess your claim and help you move forward with legal action. Contact us now to find out more in a free consultation.
Your 5 Best Steps After a Slip and Fall Accident
You may not know what to do for the best after a slip and fall accident. In some cases, victims believe the fall is their fault, or a property owner tries to minimize what has happened, discouraging the injured individual from seeking help or filing an incident report. However, to protect your health and rights, consider taking the following five steps if you get hurt in a fall on another’s property:
1. Promptly Get Medical Advice
The most crucial step you can take after a slip and fall accident is to seek medical attention. Receiving medical treatment can safeguard your health and document the extent of your injuries. A medical report will be crucial in proving your case and helping you pursue fair compensation.
2. Report the Accident Immediately
Report the slip and fall accident as soon as possible to the appropriate parties, such as the property owner or manager. An incident report helps to establish a record of the accident and provides evidence to support a compensation claim. Make sure to get a copy of the accident report for your records.
3. Gather Evidence
Gather as much evidence as possible to support your claim. Crucial evidence can include:
- Photos of the area where you fell
- Witness statements
- Medical receipts or bills
- Receipts of out-of-pocket expenses
- A journal detailing the effects of the injuries on your life
4. Keep Detailed Records
Keeping accurate records of all communication and documents related to your slip and fall case can be essential for your claim. Such records can include correspondence with the insurance company or at-fault party, accident reports, and medical treatment records. Keeping all the vital documents organized in a folder can help you stay on top of your compensation claim and assist your attorney with building a solid case against the at-fault party.
5. Speak to a Slip and Fall Lawyer
Consulting an experienced slip and fall lawyer is essential to protecting your rights. An attorney can help you understand your legal rights and options and guide you through the process of filing a claim. They can also negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries.
If an insurance company or at-fault party refuses to compensate you adequately, a determined slip and fall attorney at Morgan & Morgan can fight powerfully for the compensation you deserve.
What Not to Do After a Slip and Fall
Knowing what not to do after a slip and fall can be just as important for protecting your rights as knowing what to do. If you want to maximize your chances for a fair settlement, consider the following advice:
Do Not Leave the Accident Scene
If you get hurt in a slip and fall, stay at the scene until help arrives. Leaving too soon, without receiving medical attention or filling in an accident report, can make it challenging to prove your claim.
Avoid Apologizing
It is human nature to apologize immediately, even if we are not responsible for a slip and fall. However, something as innocent as saying “I’m sorry” could make it more challenging for you to recover adequate compensation.
Do Not Skip Doctors’ Appointments
Following your treatment plan conscientiously can be critical for recovering full and fair compensation in a slip and fall claim. If you skip appointments or medical treatments, the other side might argue that you exaggerated your injuries and could try to minimize your settlement.
Refrain From Signing Insurance Documents
Beware if the property owner or an insurance company offers to pay for your medical expenses right away. They may try to settle as quickly and as cheaply as possible. Depending on your injuries and other losses, your overall damages may be far greater than your immediate medical expenses.
Before signing any agreements or accepting compensation, consult a slip and fall lawyer at Morgan & Morgan. We have your best interests at heart and can protect you from the at-fault party or insurer taking advantage of you.
You Could Qualify for Slip and Fall Compensation
The compensation you could receive for a slip and fall injury can include all damages related to your injury. While this will vary from one person to another, you could receive awards for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of wages
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Loss of life quality
- Out-of-pocket costs related to the accident
Morgan & Morgan’s slip and fall lawyers know how to calculate your damages accurately. In determining the worth of your claim, we assess the full impact of a fall injury on your life.
A Morgan & Morgan Slip and Fall Lawyer Can Help You Get What You Deserve
After a slip and fall accident, you may feel overwhelmed and want to handle the situation as quickly as possible. However, insurance issues and legal systems can be complex and confusing. Without the help of an experienced slip and fall lawyer, receiving the settlement you deserve can be tricky. Moreover, insurance companies often have teams of lawyers working to minimize payouts.
A tenacious attorney can level the playing field and protect your rights. When you are already dealing with physical pain and mounting medical bills, navigating a complicated legal process alone adds unnecessary stress and anxiety. Morgan & Morgan is here for you. Our slip and fall attorneys can deal with all the legal aspects of your claim, allowing you to focus entirely on your recovery. We can:
- Investigate the circumstances of your fall
- Determine who is liable
- Collect and review evidence
- Analyze the condition of the property at the time of your fall
- Prove negligence
- Negotiate with the insurance company
- Fight your case vigorously at trial
You will not have to worry about navigating the legal process on your own with our dedicated slip and fall lawyers in your corner. We know how to fight for the compensation victims need to move forward with their lives.
Get answers to commonly asked questions about our legal services and learn how we may assist you with your case.
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Do I Have to File a Lawsuit to Get Compensated After a Slip and Fall?
In an ideal world, an insurer or at-fault party would offer you an adequate settlement if you slipped and fell due to a hazard. However, slip and fall victims often face an uphill battle when seeking compensation.
Insurance companies and property owners often deny responsibility for these accidents to protect their bottom line and avoid large payouts. Filing a lawsuit may be the only way to get the compensation victims deserve.
A skilled slip and fall lawyer can establish the property owner’s fault for the accident and that the victim is entitled to compensation for their injuries and losses. By pursuing legal action, you could recover the compensation you need to cover all fall-related expenses, such as medical bills and income loss, and move forward from your injury.
What Are Some of the Most Common Locations of Slips and Falls?
Slips and falls can occur anywhere on public, commercial, and private premises. However, common locations for slips and falls include:
Grocery and retail stores: Wet floors, cluttered aisles, and uneven surfaces can create hazards for shoppers.
Hospitals and care facilities: Patients and residents of hospitals and care facilities may be at increased risk of slips and falls due to age, health conditions, or mobility problems.
Workplaces: Many workplaces, such as construction sites and warehouses, have specific hazards that can increase the risk of slips and falls, such as building debris on floors, slippery surfaces, and cluttered work areas.
Outdoor areas: Cracked or icy sidewalks, slippery surfaces at public pools, and other poorly maintained outdoor surfaces could create pedestrian hazards.
Residences: Slips and falls can also occur in rental complexes and private homes. Falls may be particularly in common areas, bathrooms, kitchens, or other areas with slippery surfaces or tripping hazards.
It is important to note that in any of the circumstances discussed, and many others, you could be entitled to compensation from the responsible party. A slip and fall lawyer from Morgan & Morgan can assess your case and determine whether you qualify for compensation.
What Are Common Compensable Slip and Fall Injuries?
Recovering from a fall injury can be expensive and lengthy, especially for older adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that older individuals may lose independence after a severe fall. If someone else is responsible for your injury, no matter what type of injury you suffered, they should pay for your damages. However, some common compensable fall injuries include:
- Cuts and lacerations
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Bone fractures
- Neck injuries
- Spinal cord damage and paralysis
Slips and falls can cause astronomical medical costs. If you are affected and another is responsible, you could recover significant damages. Our tenacious slip and fall lawyers are here to help you move forward with a claim.
Who Is Responsible for My Slip and Fall Accident Damages?
Liability for a slip and fall injury can depend on several factors, including the property owner's duty of care, the dangerous condition that caused the injury, and whether or not the property owner knew or should have known about the hazardous condition. Depending on your case, the defendants in a lawsuit could be:
- The property owner
- The store, restaurant, or property manager
- A landlord
- A private homeowner
- A government agency
An experienced personal injury attorney can help determine who to hold accountable for your damages and injuries.
Is it Free to Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer?
Whether you can hire a lawyer for free depends on the law firm. Some personal injury lawyers charge an hourly rate ranging from a few hundred to several hundred dollars per hour.
However, most slip and fall lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if they win the case. However, some law firms charge clients legal expenses upfront, such as court filing fees. Depending on the length and complexity of your case, such legal costs can be steep.
Hiring a slip and fall lawyer at Morgan & Morgan is always free. You pay nothing out of your pocket and only pay us if and when we win, and you recover compensation.
Morgan & Morgan Fights for Slip and Fall Victims
A slip and fall can be a painful and traumatic experience that leaves you feeling helpless, in pain, and out of pocket. Morgan & Morgan understands the physical, emotional, and financial toll a slip and fall injury can take on your life. However, you do not have to struggle alone. We can fight tirelessly for the compensation you deserve.
Our experienced slip and fall lawyers can navigate the complex legal system on your behalf, hold the negligent parties accountable, and fight for maximum potential compensation. We can be your allies and advocates, providing the legal and moral support you need to move forward with your life after suffering an injury.
Get America’s largest personal injury firm on your side today and contact us for a free case review.
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