What Evidence Should I Collect After a Slip-and-Fall Accident?
You probably don’t expect to get injured in a slip-and-fall accident when you go to the grocery store, bank, or post office in Florida. What you do expect is for the property owner to put up warning signs steering you away from dangerous conditions. If they fail to do that, you may have a slip-and-fall injury case against them, according to Florida statutes.
If you want to maximize your compensation, it’s critical to document all evidence as well as you can. Below, a Florida slip-and-fall attorney explains what evidence you should gather after your accident.
Photos of the Accident Scene
You may not think of taking pictures of the scene after you’ve fallen, especially if you’re hurt. However, take photos if you can to help strengthen your case against the property owner. Doing this quickly is important because employees will probably clean up the hazard that caused you to slip and fall as soon as you make an accident report.
The Accident Report
After slip-and-fall incidents, victims should never leave the property without making an accident report. Without this report, you have no evidence of the fall, and the manager will have no record of it. Consequently, the property owner’s insurance company could deny your claim.
When making your report, be as thorough as possible. Request a copy of the report from the manager to add to your case file.
A Written Account of the Accident
If your accident is serious, someone may call the police to the scene. They will talk to you and make a report of the accident. If the police don’t arrive, you can write your account of the incident.
In this report, include:
- The date and time of the accident
- The location at which you fell
- People who saw you fall
- What you were doing right before the accident
- What caused you to fall, such as spilled food, wet floors, or a lack of warning signs near construction work
Witness Statements
If you fell in a busy store, there’s a good chance someone saw you take a tumble. Such people can make excellent witnesses, and their statements can help corroborate your claim.
Flag down any witnesses who may have seen the accident and ask what they saw. If they’re willing to give their name and phone number, that’s even better. Your Florida slip-and-fall attorney may want to speak with witnesses when building your case.
Surveillance Footage
Many commercial properties, including grocery stores, hotels, gas stations, and banks, have security cameras for surveillance. It’s possible these cameras caught your accident on tape, and if so, you can ask the manager or property owner for a copy of the footage. Do this soon after the accident because many surveillance systems overwrite old footage after a certain period – possibly as short as 24 hours after the accident.
Medical Records
Slip-and-fall injuries can be much more serious than you first thought. You could have a broken bone or two, back injuries, or even a traumatic brain injury. Sometimes, injuries don’t become apparent until long after the accident.
This is why it’s smart to see a doctor after your accident. Keep copies of your treatment records and give them to your personal injury attorney.
Contact Us If You’ve Had a Slip-and-Fall Accident
Slip-and-fall accidents can lead to serious injuries and even permanent disabilities. If you’d like to seek damages for an accident, reach out to a Florida slip-and-fall attorney from The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro, P.A. We have years of experience assisting slip-and-fall victims in Naples, Orlando, Fort Myers, and nearby cities.
Call our law firm at 239-500-5000 for a free consultation.
