Slip and fall accidents can cause serious injuries — broken bones, head trauma, back injuries — and they happen more often than you'd think. If you fell because of someone else's negligence (a wet floor with no warning sign, broken stairs, icy sidewalks), you may have a premises liability claim. What you do in the hours and days after the fall can make or break your case.
Tell the property owner, manager, or employee about the fall and ask for a written incident report. Get a copy for your records. If they refuse to document it, write down the details yourself immediately.
Take photos of exactly where you fell, what caused the fall (wet floor, broken railing, uneven surface), any warning signs (or lack thereof), and your injuries. Do this as soon as possible — conditions may be fixed quickly.
Some injuries don't show symptoms right away. Seeing a doctor creates a medical record linking your injuries to the fall, which is critical evidence if you pursue a claim.
To win a slip and fall case, you generally need to show that the owner knew (or should have known) about the hazard and failed to fix it or warn about it. This is where a lawyer's investigation can be crucial.
The property owner's insurance company may contact you for a "routine" recorded statement. Politely decline until you've spoken with a lawyer — these statements are often used to minimize your claim.
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