Arzadi and Associates | Slip & Fall Accident

Slip and fall incidents cause 15% of all accidental deaths; second only to motor vehicle accidents. In the wintertime, sidewalks, stairs and walkways that are snowy, icy or wet, present a particular danger of slip and fall injuries. Businesses and residences may be liable for the natural accumulation of ice and snow if they do not take adequate precautions to clear it.

Slip, Trip and Fall include incidents of all types, including slips on food and foreign substances in restaurants and supermarkets, trips over badly aligned sidewalk edges and other dangerous surfaces, and falls down stairs that are in poor condition; inadequately lighted and/or not built to code. Each case usually involves unique aspects that must be adequately proven in order to resolve your case.

IF YOU ARE INJURED IN A SLIP & FALL ACCIDENT:

Slip and fall accidents differ significantly from other types of accident cases in one important aspect: The negligent or dangerous conditions that caused a slip and fall injury are usually easily and quickly cleaned up or lost. This loss of the physical evidence makes slip and fall cases more difficult to prove than other types of cases.

Preserve Evidence
If you have been seriously injured in a slip and fall incident, it is critical to gather and preserve evidence.

Take Photographs
Take pictures of the area where you fell, including the floor surface, if possible try and record the condition at the time of your fall. The photographs may show the presence or absence of any mats, rugs, or slip prevention materials such as sand at the location. Take photographs of any signs that might be in the area of the location of the accident.

After the accident you should take pictures of the condition of your clothing and shoes as they appeared immediately following the accident. Stains and scrapes can help pinpoint how you fell and where you landed.

If you sustained external injuries such as bruises, cuts, scrapes, stitches or required casts, take photographs of them to preserve the state of the injury for the attorney. If your injuries are very severe your attorney will likely take steps to help take photos and gather evidence.

Record Statements of Witnesses
Make sure you or someone with you gets the name, address and telephone number of any potential witness. Return to the accident scene and visit any nearby homes or business to see if there are any potential witnesses to the accident or to the dangerous conditions involved. If you do get witness information, do not contact or speak to the witnesses again or attempt to get any written statements from them -- let the attorney contact them.

Save Any Physical Evidence
Save the item that caused you to fall. If the item is perishable, such as a fruit or vegetable, try to preserve the item in a freezer. You may also preserve the shoes that you were wearing at the time you fell. Put them inside a plastic bag and tape it shut so that any materials stuck to the shoes will remain. If you are able, you should not leave the scene of the accident without obtaining a copy of the accident report that the manager, owner, employee or other person has filled out while in your presence.

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