6 Essential Things to Do after a Slip & Fall Accident

What to Do after a Slip & Fall

What to Do after a Slip & Fall

Slipping and falling down can cause significant injuries, some of which may have long-term impacts on people’s quality of life. When slip and falls happen on other people’s property, knowing what steps to take after the accident occurs can be integral to the success of a future case – and to victims’ overall recoveries.

So, if you are ever hurt in a slip & fall accident, here are the most important steps to take (if possible) after the accident:

  1. Seek medical attention immediately – Call an ambulance if you hit your head, you were knocked unconscious or you believe you suffered any serious injuries. If your injuries may be less severe, make it priority to see a doctor as soon as possible after the accident. A medical exam can reveal the extent of your injuries, and doctors’ reports explaining your injuries can be essential later when it comes time to prove how much damage you suffered in the slip & fall.
  2. Report the fall – If your accident happens in a work or public setting (as opposed to a private residence), find the authority on hand (e.g., a manager, a landlord, a building owner, etc.), and make sure the slip & fall is reported to them. This should cause another incident report to be written up, possibly providing additional important evidence for a future slip & fall claim.
  3. Gather as much evidence as possible from accident scene – In other words, if and when possible, try to take pictures of the accident scene and/or get names and contact information from any witnesses to the accident. While pictures can help establish the causes of the slip & fall, witnesses’ accounts can back up your version of events later, bolstering a slip & fall claim.
  4. Record your account of what happened – As soon as possible after the accident, write down a detailed account of what happened before, during and following the fall. Try to include as many details as possible about the accident scene, anything you noticed prior to slipping & falling, and what occurred in the moments after the fall. These details can get fuzzy later, so the sooner you document them, the better.
  5. Save everything – Do your best to save any other items you have that can support a future claim. Such items may include (but are by no means limited to) the clothing and shoes worn on the day of the accident, copies of incident reports, doctors’ bills, correspondence from insurance companies (related to the accident), etc. You never know when such evidence may be important later, so it’s best to error on the side of caution here and save as much as possible (it can always be tossed out later).
  6. Contact an experienced slip & fall lawyer – Taking this step can be the key to understanding more about your rights and options after a slip and fall. It can also be crucial to protecting your rights and interests as you get on the path to financial recovery.

Contact Littleton & Englewood Attorney D.J. Banovitz

If you have been hurt in a slip and fall – or in any type of accident on someone else’s property, contact Littleton & Englewood Attorney D.J. Banovitz by calling (303) 300-5060 or by sending our firm an email via the contact form on this page.

From offices based in Englewood, Colorado, Attorney D.J. Banovitz provides the highest quality representation to injured people throughout Arapahoe County, Denver County, Douglas County and the state of Colorado.

D.J. Banovitz’ career has always concentrated on trial practice and he has litigated hundreds of cases. His passion and sole career focus has been to seek justice for people suffering from personal injuries as the result of someone else’s negligence. The hallmark of the Law Office of D.J. Banovitz, is the total commitment to professionalism, quality, and personalized care of your injury case. D.J. has dedicated his professional life to helping those most in need and is a proud and active member of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association. His experience includes volunteering for Colorado Rural Legal Services in Montrose, the Colorado Aids Project, consumer law, family law, criminal defense, and Alternative Defense Counsel for juveniles in Denver.