Kevin Marshall and Ahmed Tariq
September 7, 2021
Slip and fall accidents can occur anywhere, any time of day and under any circumstances, including snow, ice, construction sites, uneven flooring, and many more. Our clients have also fallen in parking lots, grocery stores, hallways, sidewalks and on the most unexpected surfaces.
Please take care out there! If you have the misfortune to be injured in a slip & fall (or trip & fall) accident, here’s a checklist of 10 things you need to do or know:
1. Immediately take pictures of the surface where you fell, the wider scene and surrounding area at the time of the incident (or ask someone else to take photos).
2. Take note of any witnesses and write down their contact information.
3. Take pictures of your own injuries (including lacerations, bruises, lost teeth).
4. Take pictures of the shoes and clothes you were wearing at the time at the incident and preserve them. Take photos of damage to your glasses, hearing aids, pace maker etc. Take photos of anything you were carrying at the time of the accident, e.g. purse, bags, umbrella, etc. Do not launder the clothes and shoes, even if they are soiled.
5. Record the time and date of the accident and the weather.
6. Seek medical attention from a medical doctor at a hospital or clinic right away.
7. Keep all receipts for medical treatment, assistive devices, pain medication, and replacement of items damaged or destroyed in the accident.
8. With accidents on municipal sidewalks or other public property, you must give written notice within 10 days of the accident. The notice should include the time, date, location, description of injuries, the cause of the accident and the reason for the notice.
9. For private property involving claims caused by ice and snow, written notice must be provided to property owners or their hired independent contractors within 60 days of the accident.
10. For all slip and fall claims, the limitation period to sue is 2 years from the date of the accident.
