10 Things To Do After a Slip and Fall Accident

It can be tough to collect your thoughts after being injured in an accident. If you know what to do after a slip and fall accident, however, you can take the right steps in protecting yourself – and a future claim for recovery.

In general, here are the important things to remember to do after a slip and fall accident happens:

1. Seek medical attention as soon as possible – Slip and fall accidents can leave people in shock, sometimes preventing them from sensing how badly injured they may be. So, even if you don’t feel hurt after a slip and fall, it is important to be checked by a doctor as soon as possible. This can lead to a proper diagnosis and an official report about the injuries caused by the fall.
2. Report the accident – Make sure the authority for the premises (e.g., a store manager, a landlord, a building owner, etc.) is informed that the slip and fall happened. If that party creates a report about the accident, request a copy of it.
3. Take pictures of the scene of the accident – If possible, snap some photos of where the slip and fall occurred. These pictures can reveal (or confirm) the factors that led to the slip and fall, and they can be very important if a property manager or owner alters the scene after the accident happens.
4. Get contact information for any witnesses – If anyone saw you slip and fall, try to get his or her name and contact information. Witnesses can help back up your version of events later.
5. Record your version of the events – Write down the details of what happened before, during, and after the accident. Details to note can include the flooring or building conditions, whether you reported the accident, and when you sought medical care. These details may become less clear later, so writing up your version of events as soon as possible after the accident is crucial.
6. Preserve other potential evidence – This can include the clothing and shoes you wore on the day of the accident, as well as any documents you have received from the property owner/landlord, their insurance company, doctors, etc. All of these items can be important to a future slip and fall case.
7. Avoid giving a formal statement to the insurance company – Formal statements usually mean recorded statements, which can be used against accident victims to try to limit or deny them payouts. You have no duty to give a statement, and if an insurance company threatens to “close the file,” it can always be opened if you haven’t missed the overall claim deadline. You should usually avoid giving a recorded statement, and you should contact a lawyer ASAP if an insurance company is pressuring you for a formal statement.
8. Avoid discussing the slip and fall accident on social media – You may want to share your experience and get support from your loved ones after a slip and fall, but be cautious about looking for this support online because some social media posts can come back to bite you later. For example, insurers may try to use your posts to dispute the causes of the accident, the nature of your injuries, etc.
9. Follow through with additional medical care – Receiving ongoing medical attention can be important to your physical recovery. It can also be essential to your financial recovery, as failing to follow through with medical treatments can be leverage for an insurer to try to argue that your injuries are not as serious as you claim.
10. Consult a slip and fall lawyer – This is one of the most important steps to take after a slip and fall. That’s because an attorney can help you protect your rights and interests, stand up to insurance companies, and help you bring your slip and fall case to a favorable resolution.

Contact a Colorado Slip and Fall Attorney at Dormer Harpring

Contact a Denver slip and fall attorney at Dormer Harpring to get on the path to recovery. You can call us at (303) 747-4404 or email us via the contact form on this page. Our lawyers provide exceptional representation to people throughout Denver County, Adams County, Boulder County, Arapahoe County, Jefferson County, and the State of Colorado.