Slip and fall accidents can cause injuries ranging from minor bumps and bruises to complex fractures, back injuries, and brain injuries. If you have fallen on another person’s property, it is important that you take steps to protect your legal rights. Working with a Northern Virginia personal injury attorney who can investigate the accident to gather evidence proving fault and liability is one of the best steps that you can take after a slip and fall accident in Northern Virginia.
Seven Steps You Should Take After a Slip and Fall Injury
1. Report the Injury to the Property Owner
Immediately report the accident to the property owner or a representative. Documenting the accident is one of the best ways to protect your right to recover compensation for your injuries. Request a copy of the written incident report from the property owner or the representative.
2. Document the Accident Scene
If possible, take photographs and make a video with your cell phone of the accident scene. Focus on what caused your fall, such as water on the floor, damaged flooring, broken handrails, items or debris in the walkway, etc. The property owner is likely to correct the problem after you leave, so having a photographic record of the area as it appeared when the fall occurred can be extremely helpful when filing a personal injury claim.
3. Ask Bystanders for Contact Information
Eyewitness testimony is another useful tool in proving fault and liability for a slip and fall accident. Ask bystanders for their names and contact information before they leave. In many cases, bystanders do not stay very long, and it may be difficult to locate witnesses without this information.
4. Seek Medical Attention Immediately
Documenting your injuries is also important for a personal injury claim. If you did not go directly to the hospital after your fall, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Delays in seeking medical care are used by insurance companies to argue that your injuries did not occur in the fall or your injuries are not as severe as you now claim.
5. Preserve Your Clothing and Shoes
Place the clothing and shoes you were wearing in a bag and preserve them for your attorney. They could be evidence in a personal injury case.
6. Document Your Financial Losses
Documenting financial losses and expenses related to the accident improves your chance of recovering compensation for your economic damages. Examples of financial losses in a slip and fall case include:
- Medical expenses, including doctor’s visits, hospitalizations, ER visits, surgeries, medications, medical supplies, physical therapy, etc.
- Personal care expenses, such as assistance with household chores or childcare
- Travel expenses to and from doctor’s appointments
- Loss of income, salaries, and wages
- Damage to personal property
7. Document Your Recovery
You may also be entitled to compensation for noneconomic damages or pain & suffering damages. Documenting your recovery can help your attorney calculate the maximum value for pain and suffering damages. Take photographs of your injuries as you heal and keep a journal detailing your daily pain level, activities you miss because of your injuries, things you cannot do because of your injuries, and how your injuries impacted your relationship with family members and friends.
Contact a Northern Virginia Personal Injury Attorney for a Free Case Review
If you are injured in a slip and fall, the property owner may be liable for your injuries, damages, and losses. However, proving a slip and fall claim can be challenging. Contact our Northern Virginia personal injury attorneys today to discuss your case in detail and learn about how we can help you investigate your accident and file a claim with the insurance provider.