Accidents where people slip and fall can happen out of the blue and leave you with major injuries that affect your physical, emotional, and financial health. If you hurt yourself when you slipped and fell in Durham, you should know what to do to protect your rights and make sure you get the money you’re owed. Here is a list of things you should do after a slip-and-fall accident.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
What you should do first after a slip-and-fall accident is to go to the hospital. Some injuries, like internal injuries or concussions, may not show signs right away, even if you don’t feel pain. A doctor or nurse should check you out right away to see how you’re doing and make sure no major damage has been done. You should always put your health first.
Report the Incident
After taking care of your health, you need to tell the right people or property owners about the slip-and-fall accident. This person could be the store manager, the owner of the land, or the person in charge of the building. There needs to be an official record of the accident if it happened in a public place like a mall or an office building. You must make a report. This proof will help you later when you are pressing your claim.
Document the Scene
After the accident, take shots of the place where you fell. It could be anything dangerous that caused the fall, like wet floors, dim lighting, or surfaces that aren’t level. Make sure to take pictures of the area from different angles so that you can clearly see what happened that led to your injury. If there were any witnesses, get their contact information because what they say could be very important to your case.
Avoid Giving a Statement Without Legal Advice
While it’s important to report the incident, you should avoid giving detailed statements to insurance companies or the responsible parties without first consulting an attorney. In many cases, property owners or insurance adjusters may try to minimize their liability by pressuring you into making a statement or offering a quick settlement. Before you agree to anything, you should make sure you know your legal rights and choices. You can get the help you need to protect your rights from a slip and fall lawyer in Durham.
Consult a Slip and Fall Attorney
If you were hurt in a slip-and-fall accident in Durham, you should talk to an experienced slip-and-fall lawyer. A skilled lawyer can help you figure out how strong your case is, gather the proof you need, and follow the legal process. A statute of limitations can tell you how long you have to file a case for your injuries. They will also help you understand it. Your lawyer will work to make sure you get the money you are due if the property owner or their insurance company refuses to pay you fairly.
One example is that if you’ve been seriously hurt and don’t know what to do next, you need to see a professional right away. At https://www.cblawnc.com/durham-slip-and-fall-attorney/, you can get more information and help from a local professional.
Consider Your Long-Term Recovery
Slip-and-fall injuries can sometimes have long-lasting effects, like pain that won’t go away, trouble moving around, or being permanently disabled. When you are discussing a settlement, make sure you think about how your injuries will affect you in the future. An experienced lawyer can help you figure out how much you’ve been hurt, taking into account things like future medical bills and lost wages.
Conclusion
It can be hard to deal with the fallout of a slip-and-fall injury, but if you do the right things, you can make sure you get the money you deserve for your injuries. Get medical help right away, tell what happened, take pictures of the scene, and talk to an experienced Durham slip and fall lawyer to protect your rights. You can start getting better with peace of mind knowing that you have professional legal help on your side if you take the right steps.