Slip and fall accidents and trip and fall accidents are quite common. In many cases, the person that slips or trips and falls only sustains minor injuries, such as scrapes, minor abrasions, and bruising. However, there are times the impact from the fall can be more severe, especially if it catches us off guard, which could include:
- Sprains
- Strains
- Broken Bones
- Cracked Bones
- Deep Cuts
- Puncture Wounds
- Head Trauma
- Face Trauma
Regardless of the extent of injuries, there can be grounds for a slip and fall injury case should the landlord, property owner, or business owner be liable. Whenever you find yourself in a situation where you have slipped or tripped and fallen down and been injured, it is important to document the accident.
Step 1: Call for help.
Take a moment and collect your thoughts before getting up. Our initial response after falling is to get up right away, but you could be lightheaded or dizzy. If people are nearby, ask them for help getting up. If you are in severe pain, do not get up. Instead, call 911 or ask someone nearby to call 911.
Step 2: Take pictures of the area where you slipped or tripped and where you fell down.
Pictures are strong evidence showing that the landlord, property owner, or business could be held liable for your injuries. Things such as improper lighting, slippery or wet floors, uneven sidewalks, cracked sidewalks, broken curbs, and unmaintained walkways could help support your case.
You need pictures to show the condition at the time of the accident. Otherwise, if the landlord, property owner, or business owner makes repairs or take other actions, they might claim there was nothing wrong.
Step 3: Take pictures of your injuries.
It is equally vital to take pictures of your injuries. You can take pictures at the accident location, as well as before-and-after pictures while seeking medical treatment. If possible, have someone take a picture of you on the ground where you fell down.
Step 4: Get the names and contact details of any witnesses.
Sometimes witnesses may have more than a verbal testimonial to provide. In some cases, they might have pictures or videos of you falling down.
Step 5: File an injury report with the landlord, property owner, or business owner. You need to make the responsible party aware of the injuries and accident.
Step 6: Seek medical treatment. Even if you only scrape your hands and knees, it is highly recommended to still seek medical care for your injuries. You could be more severely injured than you think.
Step 7: Contact a personal injury accident lawyer. Remember to show the pictures you took of the accident scene and your personal injuries to your lawyer. The pictures help determine whether you have grounds for a case.
If you were injured in a slip or trip and fall accident, please feel free to contact The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. at (212) 970-6500 to speak with one of our New York accident lawyers today!