What to do if You’ve Had a Slip and Fall Accident

Here are the steps to take:

• Immediately report the accident to the store manager, landlord, homeowner or person in charge of the facility where you fell.
• Collect the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses.
• Take notes of any conditions that may have contributed to the accident. These might include deteriorated sidewalks, foreign substances, water or ice left uncleared for an unreasonable amount of time.
• If possible, return to the accident scene to photograph the area.
• Contact an attorney before you talk to the insurance company or sign any papers. Otherwise, you may compromise your right to be compensated for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Whether or not you have a case depends on the severity of your injuries and if you can prove that the party at fault was negligent. This usually means that the owner or person in charge knew or should have known about a potentially dangerous condition. To prove liability, you must establish that the condition existed long enough so that the party had a reasonable time to remedy it.