A slip and fall injury can totally disrupt your life. You are suddenly dealing with pain, medical appointments, perhaps surgery, missed work, difficulty with mobility, a feeling of being overwhelmed. The actions you take immediately following an accident – and in the weeks that follow – are important. What you do, and don’t do, can directly affect your chances of getting financial compensation for your injury.

Should You Wait Until Hiring a Lawyer to Take Action?

The simple answer is no. While you should consult an (experienced personal injury attorney) as soon as possible, there are things you should do immediately and during the weeks following your accident.

The 9 Steps To Protect Your Injury Claim:

1. Seek Medical Attention.

Your health is the number one priority. Even if you feel your injuries are minor, go to an emergency room, urgent care, or your doctor. Many times serious injuries such as concussions, soft tissue damage, or internal bleeding can be masked right after an injury.

However, if you wait and later determine that a doctor’s appointment is necessary, go as soon as you can.

Note; Delaying medical attention does not automatically prevent you from pursuing a claim, although it may make proving injuries more difficult.

2. Report the Accident.

If possible, either you or someone with you should report the accident before you leave the premises. Tell them what caused the fall and request an accident report with a copy forwarded to you. This could be a store manager, assistant manager, a rental office, or business owner. Be sure to get their contact information.

If necessary, an initial or a more detailed report can be filed after leaving the premises. However, this should be done as soon as possible with a clear explanation of why it was not filed at the time of the accident.

Note; While filing an accident report is recommended, it is generally not required to pursue an injury claim. Further, businesses may not provide copies of their internal reports.

3. Document the Scene and the Hazard.

If you are physically able, document the scene of your accident. If not, ask someone with you to
do so. Take extensive photos and videos of the exact spot where you fell. Get multiple photos of
the hazard that caused your fall; a wet or icy sidewalk, an uneven or cracked sidewalk, a loose
rug, hidden step, poor lighting. Also take photos of the surrounding area, including the absence
of any warning signs.

Request preservation of any surveillance footage. Businesses may automatically overwrite
recordings, making early preservation important.

After leaving the premises and receiving medical care, write down a detailed description of what
happened as soon as you are able to do so. This is particularly important if you could not get
photos. Describe the location, the hazard, time of day, the weather, and the lighting. Describe
what happened and what it felt like when you fell.

4. Gather Witness Information.

Did anyone see you fall? Stop to help you? Eyewitness testimony is very powerful and provides
an independent account of what happened. Before leaving, get the names and phone numbers
of any eyewitnesses and also give them your name and number. If there was someone else with
you, a family member, friend, or acquaintance, they will be an important witness.

5. Preserve Your Clothing and Shoes.

The clothes and shoes that you were wearing at the time of the accident are physical evidence.

Store your shoes in a safe place and do not wear them or alter them in any way. Insurance
companies may try to blame your fall on your shoes being slick, worn out, or inappropriate for
where you were walking. Do not wash or alter your clothes. Make sure that any wet clothing
dries and then store all of the clothes in a safe place. If there was grease or liquid on the floor
there could be traces on your clothes.

6. Keep a Detailed Pain Journal.

Use a pad or journal to document your pain levels (1 -10 scale), physical limitations, and any
emotional distress that you are feeling. Be sure to document both ongoing symptoms as well as
improvements. Also keep track of any activities that you are not able to participate in, including
work, kids activities, family events, sports, hobbies, volunteer activities.

7. Document All Medical Treatment and Expenses.

You can use the same pad or journal to document your medical visits, physical therapy and all
medical expenses. It is important that you comply with your treatment plan as outlined, including
seeing specialists if recommended. Also, take your prescribed meds, go to all physical therapy
sessions, follow-up doctors visits, etc. Any gaps in your treatment may affect the evaluation of
your claim.

8. Be Careful When Speaking With Insurance Adjusters

Shortly after the accident you will likely receive a call from the property owner’s insurance
adjuster. You should be cautious when talking to them. Stick with the basic facts of the accident.
If you say too much you could say something that could be detrimental to your case. Politely tell
them that you are in the process of retaining an attorney who will be in touch with them.

9. Don’t Post on Social Media.

Insurance companies are skilled at finding social media posts that could help them challenge
the seriousness of your injury. The best policy is not to post anything during your injury recovery
period. If you have to post, use discretion and ask your friends to do the same.

Note; Do not delete or alter any social media posts that could be relevant to the accident or your
injuries.

What Happens if I Waited and Did Not Take These Steps?

What if I didn’t do these things? I have received medical care but waited several weeks. I have
not reported the accident, did not get photos, have not contacted witnesses, and have not
written down anything associated with my injury.

You may still have a case. A personal injury attorney can evaluate the facts and determine if
there is enough evidence to proceed.

Georgia Premises Liability and Statute of Limitations

The following applies under Georgia law.

Property owners are not automatically liable for every fall. Liability depends on the
circumstances, including knowledge of the dangerous condition and in the injured person’s
exercise of reasonable care.

Georgia generally has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims.

Dozier Law, P.C. Personal Injury Attorneys in Rincon, Effingham County have 30 + years of
experience with slip and fall injury cases. Contact us to schedule your (FREE Personal Injury
consultation.)