The Importance of Documenting Evidence After A Slip And Fall Accident

Slip and fall accidents are not just a winter phenomenon caused by ice and snow. They can happen anywhere, at any time, and for various reasons, including the negligence of property owners and managers. These accidents can result in severe injuries and even death, leading to costly medical bills and legal battles. 

Sometimes a victim misses work and even becomes physically incapable of working. If you believe you deserve compensation because someone else is responsible for the damages you’ve suffered from a slip and fall event, you must do a few things after the accident happens. 

Accurately documenting evidence of an occurrence is crucial. This article will delve into the reasons behind the significance of this aspect, providing readers with insights into why documenting evidence cannot be overlooked.

Why Evidence Is So Important in a Slip and Fall Accident

Property owners or managers should prevent all hazards causing slip and fall accidents to any visitor or tenant. It’s their responsibility to identify, repair and avoid such problems when there’s still time. Otherwise, they may be held reliable for their negligence if someone puts charges. 

Pursuing a slip and fall accident claim can get challenging because of the premises liability laws. This kind of accident often falls under a premises liability claim. Therefore, you have to be careful about documenting some initial evidence after a slip and fall accident occurs. 

The causes of falls and slips may be due to:

• Wet floors
• Ice and snow
• Debris in walkways
• Defective stairways and railings
• Escalator accidents
• Falls from heights
• Poor lighting
• Spills

Whatever the cause is, in a slip and fall accident case, insurance companies try to prove that your injuries aren’t bad enough or resulted from another incident. Medical and other relevant evidence that you gathered right after the accident can become a solid counter against the defendant’s argument. 

If you don’t document evidence after a slip and fall event, it’ll be easier for the defendant’s lawyers to claim that your injuries are not severe or unrelated to your claim.

What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident

If you were a victim of a slip and fall accident and wish to seek compensation for your medical bills, time missed from work, and your pain, suffering, and inconvenience, there are several important steps you must take. These steps include:

1. Determine the cause of the fall: After a fall, take a moment to assess your surroundings and identify the cause of your fall. This information is crucial in determining liability for the accident.
2. Take pictures: After your accident, taking a picture of the scene with your smartphone is a smart move. Try to capture many photos and document the likely cause of your fall. If you have injuries on your body, such as broken bones, bruises, or cuts, make sure you take photos of them as well. These will work as evidence. Showing pictures of your injury to the jury is much better than them telling you had injuries. If you are unable to take photos because of your injury, ask a friend or loved one to take them for you. 
3. Look for witnesses: The statement of witnesses is valuable, just like images. If witnesses are nearby during the accident, try to get their number, address, or any other contact information with their name. So that later your premises liability lawyer can contact them to get important information and an official statement. 
4. File a report immediately: File an accident report – without delay – with the details of the accident, your injuries, and other accurate information. This injury report will help make your case as credible as possible. 
5. Request security footage: If the accident happens in a public area, try retaining some footage from CCTV cameras. Or you can also ask businesses serving publicly to preserve their security camera footage of your accident. 
6. Get a medical exam: If you encounter such an accident, you must visit a doctor immediately for a medical examination. A doctor’s diagnosis of the slip and fall accident/injury (like broken bones, head trauma, and serious back injuries) is required to make a personal injury claim. 
7. Refrain from giving statements: Following a slip and fall accident, property owners or insurance companies may attempt to contact you for a statement. It is important to avoid giving any statement until you have consulted with reliable slip-and-fall lawyers, as they can help you protect your rights and ensure that you receive full and fair compensation.

If you are a slip and fall victim and have related medical bills from the accident, contact Huffman & Huffman Brothers-in-Law, PLLC. With an outstanding track record and 150+ years of collective experience, we can help recover the maximum compensation on your behalf in the most complex premises liability cases.