If you are over the age of 65, you have a greater chance of sustaining a serious injury in a slip-and-fall accident. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than eight million older Americans require medical care after a fall every year. Another 32,000 per year die from injuries they suffer during falls.
You may be able to pursue financial compensation from the person who caused or contributed to your fall. To improve your odds of receiving what you need to recover completely and move on with your life, take the following four steps after a slip-and-fall accident.
1. Notify the property owner
After your fall, you should notify the property owner about the incident. If your fall happened in a public place, you may have to complete some paperwork. You should not, however, apologize for the accident or accept blame for it.
2. Go to the emergency room
You may not realize you have suffered an injury until hours or days after a slip-and-fall accident. Consequently, you should go to the emergency room immediately for a full medical evaluation.
3. Take some photographs
Photographing the accident scene may help you prove why the accident happened. Provided you can do so without injuring yourself or others, take some photographs of the accident scene and your injuries. If you are unable to do so, ask a trusted friend or relative for help.
4. Talk to witnesses
If witnesses saw your fall or arrived after the accident, ask them to write statements. Also, obtain the names and contact details for all witnesses. After talking to witnesses and obtaining other evidence, be careful about accepting a settlement offer or signing anything without first exploring all your legal options.