Slippery floors, damaged sidewalks, and broken sidewalks can cause serious accidents, often leaving victims with long-term medical issues and massive hospital bills. While a skilled slip and fall attorney can help you recover compensation from the parties responsible, your actions immediately after the accident can have a significant impact on the outcome of your case. Below are a few actions to take and others to avoid if you’ve been hurt due to unsafe conditions on someone else’s property.

Do:

Document the scene.

After the accident, the liable party may take action to repair the defect that caused your injuries, so collect as much evidence as possible. Document the scene with photos of the conditions that led to your accident, and collect the contact information of anyone who saw what happened.

Seek medical attention immediately.

Major injuries often don’t manifest until hours or days after the accident, so see a doctor as soon as possible even if you don’t seem to be seriously hurt. Prompt medical attention can prevent the progress of your symptoms, while firmly linking the accident to the injuries you’ve sustained.

Don’t:

Make a statement to the insurance company.

While they may claim to be simply collecting a statement, insurance adjusters are almost always looking for ways to blame victims for their own injuries. Even innocuous statements can be taken out of context and used against you, so avoid speaking to the insurer at all without legal representation.

Neglect to hire a slip and fall attorney.

Personal injury cases can be extremely complex, especially when the insurer disputes liability for your injuries. A slip and fall attorney will have the expertise and resources to conduct their own investigation, calculate the extent of your damages, and negotiate with the insurance company to ensure you receive the award to which you’re entitled.

With over 40 years of experience and an impressive history of achieving results, Neimark & Neimark is Rockland and Orange county’s preeminent personal injury firm. Over the years, they’ve collected millions of dollars on behalf of clients injured in a broad array of circumstances, from unsafe premises to auto accidents. Visit their website to learn how they can help, call (888) 725-7424 any time to speak with a slip and fall attorney, and follow their Twitter for more legal tips and updates.