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A slip-and-fall accident can result in serious, life-altering injuries. If you slip and fall on someone’s property due to negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Your statements and actions immediately following the fall may have an impact on any claim you decide to pursue, so it is important to do the right thing.
Make a Report
You or someone with you should immediately report your fall to the property owner or manager. If it is a business, they will likely prepare an incident report and request a copy before you leave. Important: If your fall occurred on government-owned property, such as a city sidewalk, public park, transit facility, or government building, different rules apply. Claims against government entities in Nevada require a formal written notice of claim under NRS 41.036, and the process differs from a standard personal injury case. You should contact an attorney as soon as possible to make sure these requirements are met.
Document the Scene
Take plenty of photographs of the scene where you fell. Photos of the dangerous condition that led to your call can be very helpful evidence. It is likely that if you leave the scene before taking photos, the property owner will correct the condition, so you should take photos as soon as possible.
Find Witnesses
Look around to see if anyone else witnessed your fall or the dangerous condition. Get the names and contact information from these witnesses as their statements may be important later.
Preserve Evidence
Hold onto the clothing and shoes you were wearing at the time of the incident. Take a picture of what you were wearing at the time. You should also check whether any surveillance cameras in the area may have captured your fall.
Seek Medical Attention
You should obviously seek medical help if you know you’ve been seriously injured. However, even if you don’t think you have serious injuries, you should still see a medical professional. Some slip-and-fall injuries worsen or develop into problems over time. You want to make sure that any injuries you have are properly documented if you intend to make a claim.
Stay Off of Social Media
Resist the urge to share information about your fall and injuries on your social media accounts. Any statements you make about the incident could be used against you in the future.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
One of the most important things you can do after a slip and fall accident is to contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can advise you on steps to take, investigate the accident, preserve evidence, and negotiate on your behalf. At GGRM, we have over 50 years of experience helping the injured. To set up your free consultation, contact us online or call us at 702-978-7641 today.