An unfortunate slip & fall accident can leave you with unexpected injuries and unforeseen medical bills. If the accident happened on a property because the owner or the management was negligent, you could be entitled to compensation. There are some basic steps that you must follow immediately after the mishap, which include contacting a Cedar Rapids personal injury lawyer. Here’s what you need to know.
- Seek immediate medical help. Even when you believe that the fall accident was a minor hiccup and you have not suffered serious injuries, seeing a doctor at the earliest is important. Depending on the situation, you may have to go to the ER, but if that’s not the case, check with a physician and ensure that you get medical care. Also, it is always necessary to keep a record of your treatments and expenses related to the injury. This will be your evidence when you file a personal injury claim.
- Report the accident. You should consider informing the property manager or landlord about the accident and must share all the details in a written report. If you cannot do so because of your injuries, ensure that someone you know does that for you. The owner/manager must be aware that the accident happened with details of time, date, and the nature of your injuries.
- Gather information from the scene. If you are able to do, gather as much information as you can. From taking notes about the mishap to contacting witnesses and gathering information about the incident, don’t skip anything. If you have a phone with you (everyone does!), take pictures of the scene and your injuries. For instance, you may have tripped over loose wires on the floor, and therefore, the pictures should capture that. Consider taking pictures from different angles. If there are CCTV cameras around, consider getting the video footage of the incident,
- Contact a personal injury lawyer. You cannot expect the owner or the party at fault to admit any wrongdoing, and if you want to file a lawsuit, you will need a personal injury lawyer on your side. Ensure that you find an attorney who specializes in handling fall accidents. Don’t shy away from asking tough questions, especially concerning their profile. While the lawyer will usually charge a contingency fee, you need to know all related expenses.
Call a personal injury lawyer soon after because you have two years to file the lawsuit in most cases.