If you are pursuing a slip and fall accident claim, it can be difficult to know what to do next. You want to obtain a fair settlement so that you can pay for medical care, lost wages, and other expenses. However, many factors could impact the success of your claim.
To protect your right to fair compensation, follow these tips for settling a slip and fall claim and contact a Georgia slip and fall accident attorney as soon as possible.
Stay at the Scene After the Accident
After a slip and fall accident, you may want to leave the scene as soon as possible and get away from anyone who saw the accident happen. In most cases, the fall was not your fault, and someone else’s actions are liable for your injuries.
However, if you leave, you can struggle to link the incident to a hazard one someone’s property. Instead, stay at the accident scene and ask to speak to someone in charge.
Be Careful What You Say After the Accident
Anything that you say after an accident could impact your ability to settle your claim. If you are injured in a slip and fall, do not say anything about your injuries or how the accident occurred. You should especially avoid any statements that could hurt your case, such as:
“The fall was my fault.”
“I guess I’m just clumsy.”
“I wore the wrong shoes today.”
“I’m not hurt, I’m fine.”
“The fall wasn’t that bad.”
Always File an Incident Report
After a slip and fall accident, the store manager, property owner, landlord, or another person can help you file an incident report. This report will establish a written record of the fall and set important facts about the accident, such as when and how it occurred. You can use the report as evidence to help prove your claim, which can make it easier to obtain a settlement, so make sure to file one as soon as possible.
Seek Medical Care
As soon as possible after the slip and fall, you should seek medical care as soon as possible. You should go to the hospital even if you do not feel hurt, as some conditions do not show symptoms right away.
Your medical records can help establish the nature and the extent of your injuries, as well as justify the amount of compensation that you are claiming. To ensure that a record of your injury exists, always go to the hospital after a slip and fall accident and gather all of your medical bills, records, and receipts.
Gather Evidence
Evidence is key to successfully settling a slip and fall claim. To support your case, make sure to gather as much evidence as possible:
Take photographs and videos of the accident scene.
Gather contact information from any witnesses.
Save physical evidence like clothes and shoes.
If the property had any surveillance video footage, make sure to ask for this information as soon as possible. Your attorney can help you write a notice of your claim and demand that the property owner preserve all potential evidence, helping avoid any lost documents.
Hire a Premises Liability Attorney to Represent Your Claim
Finally, you should hire an attorney to represent your slip and fall claim. Not only can a slip and fall lawyer skillfully handle any negotiations with the property owner, but he or she can also advocate for your rights throughout the process. As soon as possible after your accident, contact an Augusta slip and fall accident attorney to discuss your case.
