How to Help Yourself (And Your Lawyer) When You’re Injured in a Fall
If you have suffered injury from a slip and fall or trip-and-fall accident, it’s important to take certain steps to support your potential legal case. First, call 911 to report any injuries and receive medical attention. This may seem obvious, but many people fail to consider this crucial step. It’s also important to get medical help before taking photos or videos of the accident scene, as the waiting time for this can be lengthy if the injuries are severe.
Take photographs of the area of the fall;
Take photographs of the footwear you were wearing at the time of the fall;
Take photographs of your injuries;
Keep the footwear you were wearing at the time of the fall – do not continue to wear them, do not throw them out!;
Record general information about the fall, such as:
- Where you were coming from and going to;
- Who you were with;
- Time of day;
- Weather conditions;
- How the fall happened;
- Your injuries; and
- Names and phone numbers of any witnesses.
Start marking down fall-related hospital attendances and medical appointments on a calendar or diary;
Speak to a lawyer immediately about your rights and responsibilities regarding the incident;
These are just a few of the things that a person involved in a slip and fall/trip and fall should do.