If you were injured in an accident by slipping, tripping or falling that occurred on a business or someone else’s property, it can be confusing to know how to handle the aftermath. Most people don’t expect to be in an accident, much less contemplate a claim or lawsuit after the fact. But your injury may cost you in time and money with medical bills, rehabilitation therapies and lost wages. It is possible and within your rights to recover compensation for your losses, either through an insurance claim or in court.
Many accident victims may believe that they can handle the negotiations with the insurance companies and property owner. Insurance adjusters know that you don’t have the knowledge or experience of the many legal nuances and subtleties involved with these claims, which they may take advantage of with lowball settlement offers. If you’ve been injured and/or are out of work because of a slip and fall accident, you should consult with an injury attorney who specializes in these types of cases. Anyone hurt on someone else’s property should consider these 3 tips on what NOT to do after a slip and fall accident.
1. Waiting to Seek Medical Care
If you’ve been injured, seek medical care immediately or as soon as possible and follow through on the doctor’s orders and recommendations. Your medical care and records will serve as evidence of your injuries and damages incurred as a result of the slip and fall accident. If you don’t seek medical care, the assumption will be that you weren’t injured very badly.
2. Talking to the Property Owner or Their Insurance Company
Never discuss your case, especially the details of the incident, with the property owner or their insurance adjuster. Insurance adjusters are trained investigators and negotiators. If they hear any indications that you may be even partially at-fault in the accident, they will use that against you. It's possible that your compensation will be reduced if they believe you were partially at-fault.
If the insurance company presents you with a release to sign, do not sign it until you’ve consulted with a slip and fall accident lawyer. Once you sign the release, you are giving up all rights to further compensation. If you’ve been injured, you may not know the full extent of your injuries and the treatment that will be required further down the line. Don’t risk being left to pay for those medical bills on your own.
3. Posting on Social Media
Anything posted on social media can be used as evidence. Do not post photos of the accident and your injuries. Be very aware of any, even small digital footprints, like ‘check-ins’ and comments on news articles and the like. And, ask your friends and family to refrain from posting anything related to your case. The best way to avoid any comments or posts being used against you, is to set all your accounts to private and avoid using the platforms for the duration of your claim.
Brandon J. Broderick Can Help with Your Slip and Fall Accident Case
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, the attorneys at Brandon J Broderick can help. When you hire a personal injury lawyer from our team, you pay nothing upfront. We work on contingent fees that are only collected if we win your case. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. Contact Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney, at Law, for a free consultation. With our proven track record of success and our commitment to client care, we can turn your setback into a comeback.