1. Get medical help as soon as possible. Though calling an attorney is important, your health and well-being are far more important.
2. Explain to the doctor that your injuries are due to a fall. Get this documented, so that you will be able to receive compensation for your medical costs, lost wages, and other losses or damages.
3. Immediately report the accident to the person in charge of wherever you fell. This might be a landlord, homeowner, store manager, business manager, or building or venue manager. If you fell at a business or rental property, inform the manager or landlord that they must create a written report of the accident. If you are not able to do this on the day of your accident, phone the manager as soon as you are able and make sure that they created an accident report. Get a copy of any accident report that is created before you leave the scene, if possible.
4. If you slip or trip and fall on private property, try not to talk to the property owner unless absolutely necessary. You can inform them you fell, but do not be drawn into an argument or make any accusations. Just pay attention to getting treatment for your injuries.
5. Take notes on the date and time of the accident, any hazardous conditions, and who was present and/or witnessed the accident, if anyone.
6. If possible, take photos of the exact location where you fell, and of any conditions that may have contributed to or caused your fall. If you cannot get these photos immediately, then ask a friend or family member to do it for you. These photos are very important to determine who is at fault and what condition caused your fall and injuries. If a business owner covers the area in front of their store with salt an hour after your slip and fall accident, and there are no photos proving that the sidewalk was untreated at the time of the fall, it will be harder to prove your claim. If you fell on a sidewalk close to a property line, it’s important to know exactly where you fell, and on whose property.
7. Collect the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses.
8. Place the shoes and clothing you were wearing when the accident occurred in a plastic bag and store them safely.
9. Do not talk to an insurance company, sign any documents, or accept any compensation payment before you consult with an attorney. Otherwise, you could lose the right to receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Many insurance companies offer to pay your medical bills if you will sign documents stating you will not file a claim against them. They may be referring only to the bills for your initial treatment. You may need surgery, future treatments or medication, or may suffer temporary or permanent disability, all while losing income and benefits. Do not sign anything before you get a skilled attorney’s advice!
10. As soon as possible, contact a reputable and well-established law firm. 
    

Trip and fall accidents can cause serious injuries. Protect your legal rights and your financial situation now, before all evidence disappears.

Our fall injury lawyers have handled numerous cases, including those involving:

• Fall on ice injury
• Broken sidewalk injury
• Fall in Parking Lot
  
• Defective street injury
• Fall in supermarket injury
• Fall in department store injury
• Fall in restaurant injury