If you have been hurt in a slip and fall accident due to a hazardous condition on another person’s property, you may be able to pursue compensation from the business or property owner. However, thorough preparation is required for your claim to be successful. Understanding the steps to take after an accident can help you build a strong claim and ensure that your recovery proceeds as smoothly as possible. 

On the other hand, failing to take the appropriate steps after a slip and fall can also hurt your claim. Our Houston personal injury lawyer knows what to do and what not to do after a slip and fall caused you to sustain injuries.

Report the Accident to the Property Owner or Manager

It is important to notify the property or business owner as soon as possible after a fall. If your fall occurred in a commercial establishment, they likely have an accident or incident report for you to fill out. Complete this form and ask for a copy. If you fall due to a hazardous condition on private property, such as if you were at a friend’s house, notify the property owner immediately.

When reporting the accident, do not make assumptions or embellish what happened. State only the facts you know with certainty. Also, refrain from acting accusatory or hostile when speaking to the owner. Immediately accusing the property or business owner can hurt your credibility and cause them to question your motivation for future legal action.

Document the Scene

Some of the strongest evidence is found at the accident scene. If possible, take photos and video footage of the entire accident scene, the hazardous condition that caused your injuries, any obstructions that blocked the hazard from your sight, weather conditions, lighting conditions, any warning signs or lack of them, and any visible injuries you suffered.

Look around for any surveillance cameras that may have caught footage of how long the dangerous condition existed before you fell, who created the hazard, and more. Take pictures of the locations of any surveillance cameras and ask the business or property owner to preserve any footage recorded on them.

After leaving the scene, also preserve the clothing and footwear you were wearing at the time of the accident. Do not throw them away or even launder them. Keep them in a bag in a safe location so the property owner cannot argue that your clothing or footwear contributed to your fall.

Locate Witnesses

Before leaving the scene, identify any witnesses who may have seen the accident. Ask them for their names and contact information so your Houston personal injury lawyer can contact them in the future. If possible, you can also ask them for a recorded statement or take notes about what they said. This evidence is often helpful in the event that you are unable to contact the witness later or if their memory fades.

Seek Medical Attention

After notifying the owner, documenting the scene, and locating witnesses, it is critical that you seek medical attention. If your injuries are very serious, call 911 so paramedics can be called to the scene. If you are able to leave the property on your own, visit an emergency room as soon as you leave the scene of the accident. This is an important step even if you do not believe you were hurt.

Many injuries, including concussions, do not exhibit symptoms right away. Seeing a doctor promptly will ensure that you receive a thorough examination so the physician can detect injuries and provide the immediate treatment you need. Seeking prompt medical attention will also document the nature and severity of your injuries through medical records. These are very important pieces of evidence in your case that can link your injuries to the accident.

Keep All Documentation Relevant to the Accident

As you recover, it is important to keep documentation of all invoices, bills, income statements, pay stubs, receipts, and tax returns. These can all provide proof of your losses so you can pursue compensation for them. 

Act Quickly

If you believe the property owner’s negligence caused your accident and are considering pursuing compensation, it is critical to speak to an attorney right away. The statute of limitations, or time limit, in slip and fall cases is generally two years from the date of the accident. Although there are some exceptions to the law, they are very limited. If you do not file your claim within two years of the date of the accident, you will lose your right to claim any compensation at all.

Two years may sound like a long time, but it is not. Your attorney will need time to conduct an investigation, collect evidence that supports your claim, and help ensure you receive the full and fair settlement you are entitled to.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

While the above steps are very important to take, there are also actions you should avoid. These include:

• Do not delay or refuse recommended medical treatment. The insurance company or property owner will use this to argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claim or to challenge the amount of damages you are pursuing.
• Do not post anything on social media. Do not talk about the accident at all and do not post any photos or videos. The other side will discover these posts and use them to show that you are not injured because you are publishing photos of you participating in activities that your injuries should prevent you from doing. It will not matter if the photos you are posting were from before your accident.
• Do not speak to the insurance company. Insurance companies use many tactics to reduce, delay, and deny accident claims. Speak to an attorney first and direct the insurer to speak to them instead. Your lawyer will ensure that your rights are protected.

Call Our Personal Injury Lawyer in Houston Today

You may be able to obtain compensation for your injuries and other losses after an accident, but slip and fall claims are complex. At Integrity Law Group, PLLC, our Houston personal injury lawyer can prove the owner’s liability for your injuries and hold them responsible for paying the full settlement you are entitled to. Call us now at (832) 280-8874 or fill out our online form to schedule a consultation and to get the sound advice you need.

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