Slip and falls are widespread accidents. You might slip and fall in your own home, while visiting a friend, or while shopping at the mall.
If you sustain injuries in a slip-and-fall accident due to another party’s negligence, you might have a valid Alabama premises liability claim.
The steps you take immediately following the accident are crucial. Here’s what to do after a slip-and-fall accident.
1. Get Medical Treatment
One of the first steps after a slip-and-fall injury is to seek medical treatment.
If you are severely injured, you may need to contact 911 and be transported to the emergency room from the accident scene.
If you are not severely injured, you should still see a doctor right away. You could have internal injuries that are not immediately visible.
2. Report the Slip and Fall
Reporting the slip and fall is crucial. You need to find someone and inform them, “I slipped and fell on your property, and I’m injured.”
You need to report the incident to preserve your right to bring a claim. If you leave the premises and don’t advise someone, they will use that against you during the claims process.
If your fall occurred on public property, you might not be able to make a report until you get home and can call the applicable agency.
You’ll want to ask for something in writing that details your claim. You don’t want to merely tell an employee, “I slipped and fell,” and then leave. You need to ensure someone creates a trackable report.
3. Take Photos at the Scene
If your injuries aren’t too severe, take photos. It would be best if you took pictures of your injuries and of the scene, including the hazard that caused you to fall.
If you later hire an attorney, they can’t have an investigator come back to photograph the exact scene. Perhaps you fell in a grocery store due to spilled liquid.
The store will clean that up, and then you have no proof of what caused your fall.
4. Get Witness Contact
Were there any witnesses at the scene who saw you fall? If so, get their contact information. Their statements may be crucial in determining liability for your injury claim.
5. Document and Gather Evidence
Be sure to document everything and gather all evidence necessary to prove your injury claim. You want to keep a pain journal and include notes on how the accident impacted your daily life.
If you can’t do things because of your injuries, be sure to note that in your pain journal.
6. Watch Your Communication with the Insurance Company
If you receive contact from the property owner’s insurance company, be very cautious of what you say. You should not agree to give a recorded statement without legal representation.
The insurance company is looking for you to say something they can use against you in the claims process.
Insurance companies vigorously defend against slip-and-fall claims, so you should be prepared for the possibility that they might deny your claim.
7. Contact an Alabama Slip-and-Fall Attorney
The seventh step, and one of the most critical things on the list of what to do after a slip-and-fall accident, is to contact an Alabama premises liability lawyer.
You need someone who can protect your rights and help you fight for the compensation you may be owed. Slip-and-fall claims are complicated, which is why you shouldn’t try to pursue one without an attorney.
If you sustained injuries in an Alabama slip and fall, let the skilled legal team at Fob James Law Firm help you. Our firm has over four decades of experience, and we know what it takes to build a successful slip-and-fall claim.
We have the experience, knowledge, and resources to take your case to trial should the insurance company deny your claim.
Contact our office today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can assist you.
Fob James
Fob James obtained a B.S., in software engineering from Auburn University and then continued his education by getting his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law. After working for a large regional firm for several years where he obtained awards for both individual and corporate clients, Fob found that his passion was fighting for individuals who have been seriously injured or wronged by others. Fob believes that the jury is the great equalizer to the power and influence that large corporations have in society.