The Barnes Firm

Trip & Falls – What to Do If I’ve Been Injured

• October 16, 2019
• Sandy

SAN DIEGO — When you trip over something, and fall, there’s a high chance of injury. When this happens, there can be a huge amount of strain on your life, your family and your finances. From medical bills to lost time at work, you may be wondering what you can do.

The fall wasn’t your fault. You shouldn’t have to be responsible for all of the headaches that come with it. Luckily, victims like you can recover compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. However, you need to prove the accident was caused by the negligence of another.  Also, a San Diego trip and fall lawyer says the victim must show that their injuries were the result of the trip and fall accident, which can be difficult if you don’t have access to the right resources.

What to Do If I’ve Been Injured in a Trip and Fall Accident

Trip and fall accident cases can involve indoor and outdoor accidents.  The most common places for these premises liability cases occur in public areas such as stores, shopping centers, apartment complexes, hotels, office buildings, sidewalks, parking lots and construction areas.

If you or someone you love has suffered an injury due to an unsafe condition, a San Diego trip and fall lawyer recommends taking the following actions to ensure that your legal rights are protected.  These recommendations will help you or your loved one collect the essential evidence and facts to substantiate your claim and improve your chances of winning your case.

1. Call 911 and Seek Medical Attention. Regardless of how you feel, you should seek medical attention immediately after a trip and fall accident.  This is especially true if you believe that you struck your head on the ground during your fall.  Whether you feel fine or not, most people experience strong emotions and their body releases chemicals that could mask any pain that you may be experiencing.  Before leaving the scene, be sure that you or someone is there to obtain the following information on your behalf.  If possible, call a friend or family member who can come to the accident scene before any emergency personnel or police arrive.  This way, your friend or loved one can assist you with the following information gathering and protect your legal rights in case the at-fault party attempt to cover up the accident.
2. Take Photos of the Trip and Fall Scene. If possible, snap a few photos of the accident scene from all directions.  Be sure to take wide photos from all directions so that you capture the background as well.  If possible, turn on the location settings on your cellphone prior to taking any photographs.  If you cannot take photographs because of your injuries, ask the person with whom you are with to assist you or any willing witnesses of your accident.  Be sure to obtain their contact information as well and have them immediately send you the images by text message or email before leaving the scene, if possible.  Take photos of the cause of your fall, such as a puddle of water, a slippery object on the floor, uneven flooring, loose carpeting or any object that caused your fall.
3. Document the Scene. Be sure that you document the scene and the events that took place.  Writing down or audio record the time, day, and location.  Also note the lighting conditions and the weather.  Document whether or not there were any warning signs or people who were cleaning or repairing the area at the time of the trip and fall accident.  Be sure to obtain contact information from all witnesses of the accident, especially any individuals that you speak with.  Be sure to write down their full name, address, telephone numbers and email addresses.  Ask them, “what did you see?”  Write down any comments or eyewitness testimony that a witness provides you.  It is important to gather the evidence and facts relevant to your case as soon as your accident has occurred.
4. Begin a Log of Your Experience. Write the date and time of work missed, medical appointments, pain and suffering that you are feeling.  Keep all of your receipts for gasoline, parking, prescriptions, medical expenses and any other accident-related expense.  It is also advisable to keep all of your pay stubs before, during and after your medical treatment to substantiate your work hours, use of vacation days or sick leave.
5. Report the Accident. If you are in a place of business, hotel, or apartment, ask to speak to the manager on duty.  If the manager on duty is not available, ask for their name and contact information.  Ask any person that you encounter who is connected to the place you were injured.  Be sure to ask that person or persons, “who should I report this accident to?”  Be sure to document that person’s name, title, email and telephone number.  In some cases, they may initiate an accident report.  Never sign any document until you have an attorney review the document beforehand.  No matter what you are being told, never sign anything.  You could be signing away your legal right to collect monetary damages.  Never accept blame for the accident.
6. Contact an Attorney Experienced in Personal Injury Cases. Personal injury law is a complex area of law that requires specific experience.  If you have been injured in any type of accident, you should speak with an experienced personal injury attorney right away.  The Barnes Firm is a personal injury law firm based in California.  Our firm only handles personal injury cases and we have a tremendous amount of experience representing trip and fall injury victims throughout the State of California.

Who Can I Trust To Handle My Trip & Fall Case?

In California, there are specific time limits in which you may file your claim to recover monetary compensation for accident-related expenses, treatment, pain and suffering.  Please note that the statute of limitations – the timeframe in which you have to file your lawsuit – in California will vary from case to case.

At The Barnes Firm, our San Diego trip and fall lawyers understand how important your case is to you and your family. We’ll go over every aspect with you, and work with the area’s best experts to gather evidence and put together a strong case for compensation.

We can even have our best San Diego trip and fall lawyer help go over your options for FREE. Contact The Barnes Firm online, or give us a call today to discuss your case and learn more about your legal rights and options.

The Barnes Firm (800) 800-0000