What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
If you or someone you know has been injured in a slip and fall accident, taking certain steps will be crucial in pursuing compensation for injuries and other losses. As our Bethesda, MD law firm advises, it is important to get medical attention after the accident, even if you feel well. Your doctor can identify whether there are injuries that have yet to surface, in addition to creating a care plan so that your body can recover as best as possible.
We may slip and fall while going about our everyday routine, and it may not be because of someone else’s fault. However, when injury accidents happen and someone may have played a part in it happening, that person should be held accountable. Victims of slip and fall accidents often don’t realize that they could be due financial restitution, so they don’t report it or hire a lawyer for help. We can watch out for your best interests as the slip and fall injury claim is handled. Here are steps to take quickly after a slip and fall accident.
- Seek Medical Care
The health of you or your loved one should be the top priority after a slip and fall accident. If you’ve been injured, see your doctor so that your injuries can be documented and properly treated. Copies of medical records may become influential pieces of proof to use in seeking compensation from the person at-fault.
- File a Report
Regardless of where the slip and fall happened, whether in a store, at a friend’s house, or on public property, report it to the appropriate owner, manager, or landlord. Get the details of the incident in writing, and request a copy of it before you leave. If you step off the premises before filing an official report, it can work against your case later on, unless you had to be sent to the emergency room right away.
- Document the Area
If you are able to after getting up, take pictures and video of the area and what may have contributed to your fall. Visual evidence can speak volumes more than a statement, so having photographs to support your claims will be essential. It is possible that the evidence will get cleaned up by workers before you have a chance to document the scene, so do so promptly. Any changes made to the scene will not only eliminate proof but can become an inaccurate representation of what happened.
Damages for Slip and Fall Victims
Regardless of how you were injured, there are specific damages you may be entitled to based on the circumstances of your case. Damages are broken down into two categories: economic and noneconomic. Economic damages are those that have an actual dollar amount attached to them. Examples of economic damages you may be able to claim include emergency room treatment, hospital stays, doctor visits, physical therapy, mental therapy, medical equipment, medication, loss of wages, and more.
You may also be able to collect for future medical expenses if your injury is one which will require long-term or permanent treatment. Reimbursement for any benefits you may have lost, such as vacation time or sick days, bonuses, and any other benefit reimbursement. If you were unable to accept a promotion or new job because of your injuries, or your injuries have left permanent damage affecting your ability to perform your job, our law firm may be able to obtain loss of income damages.
If you have been left permanently disabled by your injury, and this disability has required special handicap alterations to your home, or other necessary lifestyle changes, you may also be entitled to collect for those financial damages.
Accident victims are also allowed to seek noneconomic damages for their injuries. These include pain and suffering, emotional anguish, or loss of companionship or consortium. Noneconomic damages do not have an immediate dollar value attached and must be calculated differently.
Contact Our Bethesda Law Firm Today
If you have been the victim of a slip and fall accident and are in need of assistance, contact Brown Kiely LLP today.