Slipped and fell?
Every year, over 1 million people visit emergency rooms for slip and fall injuries. That’s over 2,700 people every single day in the U.S. alone.
The problem:
Most people don’t know what to do after a slip and fall accident. They don’t take important legal steps that can make or break a case.
Without taking the right legal actions right away, you could lose your chance at fair compensation. Don’t believe me…
The consequences can be expensive.
The average hospital cost for a slip and fall is over $30,000. This doesn’t even include lost wages, ongoing medical treatment, or pain and suffering.
In this guide, you’ll learn the exact legal steps you need to take after a slip and fall accident to protect your rights and get the most compensation.
Expand your knowledge with this handpicked companion read.
Your step-by-step action plan:
- Immediate steps to take at the scene
- Documentation you can’t skip
- When to contact legal professionals
- Building your case for max compensation
- 7 mistakes that can kill your claim
Take Immediate Action at the Scene
Here’s the thing…
The first few minutes after your slip and fall accident are critical. Your actions (or inaction) can determine whether you have a strong legal case or no case at all.
If you are physically able to do so, immediately:
Stay calm and don’t move unless you are in danger. Try not to rush around, moving too much can make your injuries worse. Assess your injuries and how you are feeling.
Call for medical attention if necessary. Even if your injuries don’t seem serious, symptoms can take hours or days to appear. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Document the scene right away. Use your cell phone to take pictures of:
- The exact spot where you fell
- The hazard that caused your fall
- Your visible injuries
- Warning signs (or lack thereof)
Report the accident. If you are on a commercial property, try to find a manager or employee and report the incident. Ask them to fill out an incident report and give you a copy.
The reason this is so important is because property owners and their insurance companies will be investigating your case immediately. You need to start protecting your interests from the first minute.
Document Everything Like Your Case Depends on It
Want to know a secret?
Documentation is what separates the successful slip and fall cases from the ones that fail. The more evidence you gather, the stronger your case is.
Get witness information. If anyone saw your accident, try to get their:
- Full name and contact information
- A brief statement about what they witnessed
- Permission to contact them later
Keep thorough records of your injuries. This includes:
- Photos of all visible injuries (take new photos every few days)
- Medical records from all treatments
- Doctor’s notes and diagnoses
- Receipts for prescriptions
- Physical therapy records
Track your financial losses. Keep every piece of evidence that shows you lost money because of your injury:
- Medical bills and co-pays
- Documentation of lost wages
- Transportation to medical appointments
- Any other expenses related to your injury
Write down your experience. Keep a daily journal of:
- Your pain levels
- How is your injury affecting your daily activities
- Emotional impact
- Sleep disruption or other quality of life issues
Insurance companies will be trying to pay you as little as possible. Detailed documentation makes that much harder for them to do.
Know When to Contact Legal Professionals
Here’s something else people don’t realize…
Slip and fall cases are a lot more complex than they first seem. Property owners and their insurance companies have lawyers working around the clock to reduce payouts.
You should contact lawyers who handle slip and fall cases in Calgary, AB as soon as possible after your accident. Here’s why timing is so important:
Evidence gets destroyed. Security footage is deleted, hazardous conditions get fixed, and witnesses forget details. A lawyer can help preserve critical evidence before it’s gone forever.
Insurance companies move quickly. They’ll often contact you within days to offer a quick settlement. These initial offers are almost always well below your case’s value.
Statutes of limitations are strict. Every jurisdiction has a time limit for filing slip and fall cases. If you miss that deadline, you lose your right to compensation.
Liability isn’t always obvious. Just because you fell doesn’t automatically mean the property owner is at fault. Lawyers know how to investigate and prove negligence.
A good slip and fall lawyer will:
- Investigate the scene
- Gather and preserve evidence
- Handle insurance company communication
- Calculate your claim’s true value
Most personal injury lawyers work on contingency, meaning you don’t pay unless they win your case.
Build Your Case for Maximum Compensation
The strength of your slip and fall case depends on four key elements:
Duty of care. The property owner had a legal duty to provide a safe environment for visitors.
Breach of duty. The property owner failed that duty through action or inaction.
Causation. The property owner’s negligence directly caused your accident and injuries.
Damages. You suffered actual losses (medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering) as a result.
Your compensation could include:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Here’s the key: The more severe your injuries and the more clear cut the negligence, the higher your potential compensation.
In fact, slip and fall settlements can range from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the circumstances.
Avoid These Critical Mistakes
Don’t sabotage your own case by making these common errors:
Never admit fault. Avoid saying things like “I should have been watching where I was going” or “It was my fault.” Stick to the facts of what happened.
Don’t delay medical treatment. Insurance companies will use gaps in treatment as proof your injuries aren’t serious.
Avoid social media. Insurance companies will scour your social media for evidence that contradicts your claims.
Don’t accept the first settlement offer. Initial offers are almost always lowball attempts to close the case quickly and cheaply.
Never sign anything without legal review. Once you sign a settlement agreement, you typically can’t pursue additional compensation later.
Moving Forward After Your Accident
Slip and fall accidents can turn your life upside down in an instant. But by taking the right legal steps, you can protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve.
Remember the key actions to take:
- Document everything immediately
- Seek medical attention promptly
- Contact an experienced lawyer quickly
- Avoid common mistakes that weaken your case
The legal system can be intimidating, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. With proper legal guidance and thorough documentation, you can build a strong case for fair compensation.
Don’t let a property owner’s negligence leave you paying the price. Take action today to protect your future.
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