What to do when you have a slip and fall accident

• Identify who is responsible for the property where you had your accident. Usually a home owner or business owner is responsible for dangerous conditions on the sidewalk in front of their property.
• If there are any witnesses, try to get their names and phone numbers.
• Report the accident to the store manager or business owner as soon as possible.
• Indentify the cause of your accident, if it is a liquid on the ground, try to see where it is coming from, if it is a defect in the sidewalk, try to see how large it is. When an accident is caused by snow or ice, it is important to know how long the snow or ice had been there and if there is any evidence that the property owner tried to shovel or salt the area where you fell.
• If possible, take photos of the dangerous condition that caused you to fall. Try to take as many as possible from different angles and distances so the photos can be used to prove exactly where the dangerous condition is (for example a picture from across the street that would show a crack in the sidewalk and the store in front of the sidewalk)
• If anyone involved in the accident says anything, write it down as soon as possible and identify the person who made the statement. For example, if you slip on liquid in a store and you hear the manager say to an employee that she told him to clean up the same spill ten minutes ago, that could be very important for your case.
• Preserve and photograph the clothing and shoes you were wearing at the time of the accident. If you fall on an icy sidewalk and there is no salt on your clothes, that may help prove that the property owner did not salt the sidewalk. If you have any visible injuries, like scars of bruises, photograph those when you get home.
• If you think you might be injured, go to the emergency room or see your family doctor as soon as possible. Some injuries do not seem serious at first, but can result in long term problems. It is safer to get checked out as soon as possible.
• When you see a doctor, be sure to explain how you were injured and mention everything that hurts even if certain injuries seem more serious than others.
• Every case is different and you deserve expert advice. Call us as soon as possible.