Ten Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall Accident

Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common causes of injuries in Florida. When a slip and fall accident is due to the negligence of the property owner, accident victims can hold them liable for paying damages for those injuries. To protect your claim after a slip and fall, follow the ten steps below.

Identify Witnesses

Eyewitness testimony is weighed very heavily in personal injury cases. If anyone saw your accident, ask them for their name and contact information so you or your lawyer can contact them in the future.

Seek Medical Attention

You must seek medical attention as soon as possible after your fall. Not only will seeking medical help ensure your injuries do not get worse, but it will also document your injuries so you can prove them in your claim.

Report the Accident

Unlike after a car accident, you do not have to report a slip and fall to the police. However, you should still report the accident to the property owner or manager. They may ask you to fill out a report and if they do, you should always ask for a copy.

Create a File

You will receive a lot of paperwork associated with your accident. Medical bills, letters from the insurance company, and accident reports are just a few types of documentation you will receive. Creating a file early in the process will ensure you do not lose any important information and that it is all easily accessible when you need it.

Take Pictures

Photos can greatly help prove the property owner’s negligence, and the damages you sustained. Take pictures of your injuries, the hazardous condition that caused your fall, and the general location and surroundings.

Keep a Journal

Over time, your memories surrounding the accident and the injuries you sustained may fade. Keeping a journal will remind you of the days and weeks following the accident, and can help prove just how difficult your recovery has been.

Stand Up for Your Rights

After a slip and fall, a business owner may tell you that a lawsuit will ruin them, but it is important to stand firm. All property owners are covered by insurance and so, your lawsuit will not be the reason for their demise. You must stand up for your own rights, as few others will during your case.

Stay Off Social Media

The insurance company will use anything you post on social media against you, no matter how innocent it may seem. Do not post anything to social media sites and ask people close to you to refrain from posting about you, too.

Do Not Speak to the Insurance Company

Shortly after the accident, a representative from the insurance company will call you and act as though they are your friend. They are not. The representative is looking for anything they can use against you, such as your own words, and will try tactics such as asking you to sign a medical release. This will only hurt you in the end, so direct any insurance adjuster to your lawyer instead.

Call a Florida Slip and Fall Lawyer

The best chance you can give yourself of claiming the full amount of compensation you deserve is to speak to a Port St. Lucie slip and fall lawyer. At Eighmie Law Firm, P.A., we have the experience necessary to file your claim properly and on time and we will hold the liable party accountable for paying the maximum damages you deserve. Call us today at (772) 905-8692 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.

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