Slip-and-fall accidents can strike at any time: when you’re browsing the grocery aisles, dropping off mail at the post office, or taking a stroll through your favorite Charlotte park. Below, learn what to do after such an accident from Charlotte’s experienced slip-and-fall lawyer.

Steps To Take After a Slip-and-Fall Accident

Many accident victims are unsure what to do next after a fall. If you wish to seek compensation, follow each of these steps carefully.

Take Pictures of the Accident Scene

If you’ve had a slip-and-fall accident, you probably didn’t trip over thin air. Examine the accident scene for clues as to why you fell and take pictures of any proof you find, such as:

  • Spilled food or beverages
  • Wet floors without warning signs
  • Icy patches
  • Loose carpeting
  • Damaged floor tile
  • Poor lighting

Look for Witnesses

Did anyone stop to help you up? Ask whether they saw what happened. Find as many witnesses as you can and politely request their contact information. Witness statements will come in handy if the property owner hides evidence or erases camera footage.

File an Accident Report

Tell the property owner or manager on duty that you want to file an accident report and request a copy. You must do this immediately after the accident. If you fail to file a report, the property owner can argue that the accident never happened, causing you to lose out on compensation.

Seek Medical Treatment

It’s wise to see a doctor even if you don’t feel injured after a slip-and-fall accident. You might feel fine now, but tomorrow, you could wake up in serious pain. Your doctor can give you injury prevention advice to avoid hurting yourself further.

Your doctor can also write a note about the probable cause of your injuries. Without a doctor’s note, the property owner might say that you injured yourself in some other manner, thus removing them from all responsibility.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

Businesses often have teams of lawyers dedicated to minimizing their liability for accidents. You’re unlikely to win if you try to fight a property owner without a lawyer.

Call a lawyer who has plenty of experience with slip-and-fall accidents, such as our attorneys from Yale Haymond Law PLLC.

What Not To Do After Your Accident

Now that you’ve learned what to do after a slip-and-fall accident, here’s what not to do.

Don’t Give a Statement to the Insurance Company

It’s a safe bet that the property owner’s insurance company will ask you for a recorded statement. They’ll make it sound like you have to give one, but this isn’t true. You only have to give the bare minimum of information, such as your name and address.

If the insurance company hounds you for a statement, tell them you need to talk to your lawyer first. Often, that’s enough to stop such requests in their tracks.

Don’t Wait To File a Claim

Accident victims sometimes drag their feet on filing a claim because they think they have all the time in the world. This isn’t true, however. In North Carolina, you have three years from the date of your slip-and-fall accident to make a claim. If you miss this deadline, you usually cannot recover any damages. The only exceptions are:

  • Someone died in the fall (the state gives you two years to make a wrongful death claim).
  • The court has declared you mentally incompetent to file a claim.
  • You were under 18 when the accident happened (you have three years from the date of your 18th birthday to make a claim).

Don’t Talk About the Accident on Social Media

Some people post every detail of their lives on social media. If you’re one of them, now’s the time to nip this habit in the bud.

Insurance adjusters are smart, and they know people love to talk about accidents on social media. You can be sure they’ll comb your feed looking for any evidence they can use against you.

How To Win Your Slip-and-Fall Case

To win your case, your lawyer must prove that:

  • The property owner had a duty of care to you.
  • They breached this duty by failing to correct a hazardous condition.
  • The hazardous condition caused your accident, and you suffered compensable damages.

Take Legal Action for Your Accident Today

Injuries from a slip-and-fall accident can be serious. If you’d like to seek justice for your injuries, call Yale Haymond Law PLLC at (704) 800-HELP. Our law firm can give you actionable advice on what to do after a slip-and-fall accident.