Millions of people in Canada visit the medical centre each year due to slip and fall accidents. Slip and fall accidents make up for many premises liability claims.
The slip and fall accident may result from negligence or carelessness from the property owner, who might be an individual, commercial owner or government owner. Property owners and managers are responsible for ensuring that no one gets hurt on their property. A slip and fall accident may be hazardous because you can injure almost any part of your body. You can suffer from broken bones, internal bleeding, brain trauma or even a flesh wound.
When you slip and fall on a property building, your next step will affect your ability to recover compensation. The store owner or property owner is liable for your medical bills and lost income and should recompense you for injury-related damages. You can only be compensated by following the proper procedures, which we will discuss in this blog.
Steps To Take Immediately After A Slip And Fall Accident
If you have a slip and fall accident, you should follow the following steps.
Seek Medical Attention
Your health or the health of your loved ones should be your number one priority following a slip and fall accident. If you get injured during a slip and fall accident, it is crucial that you seek medical attention. Even if you don’t think you have been injured seriously, it is still important to see the doctor and get proper treatment to avoid the injury escalating from a minor injury to something more serious. It is also important to seek medical attention because those medical reports will be important evidence when pursuing compensation for your injuries.
Report The Accident
After seeking medical attention, you will need to report the incident to the property owner or manager. It is important to ask them to draft a written report specifying the details of the incident. So you can either email them or request a signed document from the property owner or manager. This evidence will help you and your slip and fall injury lawyer to build a stronger case.
Document The Accident
Writing down everything that occurred during the slip and fall accident is very important. There may be people around who witnessed it, so it’s good to collect the contact information of anyone who may have been a witness.
You also want to take photographs of where the slip and fall accident occurred and document any condition that could have caused the fall.
You can also look for closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras around the area, ask to see the footage and take permission to record the video on your cell phone as evidence.
You must also keep the clothes and shoes you wore during the accident in a safe storage place. They may be relevant pieces of information in the future.
Decline To Give A Statement
After reporting to the property owner or manager, limiting your communications with them during and after filling out the report is also important. Sometimes it can be difficult to control your emotions after this type of accident. You will need to remain calm and not give any statement because anything you say will be used against you, so you want to be mindful of what you say, don’t place blame and don’t take the blame.
Also, an insurance company may ask you for your statement as well. Please do not talk to them until you contact your lawyer. Also, avoid posting anything related to the accident on social media, as it can have a negative effect on the case.
Contact A Personal Injury Lawyer
After attending to your medical needs and gathering all evidence, you will need to file for case paperwork, which can be tough. But with a reasonable lawyer by your side, you definitely will be able to build a strong case.
So it’s important you contact them immediately. You do not want to delay as it can have a negative impact on the case.
We have seen the vital steps to take after experiencing a slip and fall accident. These steps are critical to be able to stand a chance of compensation. Do not forget to seek medical attention, as health is very important and have medical reports for additional evidence. The steps involved in slip and fall accidents are tough and can take months or even years to finalize.
Do not worry. Do not hesitate to contact MG lawyers if you or your loved ones ever experience a slip and fall accident. To get started, contact us to schedule an appointment.