In any personal injury case, documenting and collecting evidence is an important first step. Evidence of the accident is necessary to reconstruct exactly what happened and to determine who or what caused the accident. From there, liability can be determined, and, possibly, a claim for compensation can be pursued.
But as simple as it sounds, documenting evidence in a slip and fall case is often not easy. Here’s what to know.
Time is of the Essence
Many slip and fall cases occur because of unsafe conditions that may disappear or be cleared away soon after the accident. For example, if you slip on melted ice in the grocery store, that wet spot will soon be cleaned up and gone. Or if you lose your balance because of a broken railing on a staircase, the owner may fix the broken railing soon after you leave.
For that reason, you must gather evidence as soon as possible after the accident. It is crucial to document the conditions of the accident location as they were when the accident occurred.
Surveillance Footage Matters
Cameras are everywhere these days, and it’s possible your slip and fall accident was captured on video. It’s important to act quickly to get a copy of the footage before it’s deleted (whether on purpose to conceal evidence, by accident, or as part of routine measures). As a private citizen, you do not have a right to that footage. However, your attorney can send a formal letter requesting preservation of the footage and a copy to look at.
Police Rarely Show Up
Unlike with car accidents, police rarely come to the scene of a slip and fall. That means there will likely be no police report to use later when pursuing a claim.
Documenting Evidence in a Slip and Fall Accident
If you’re injured in a slip and fall accident, your first priority is to attend to your medical care. Get the medical help you need, whether that means calling 911 or going to the hospital or urgent care.
Your next priority is gathering evidence. Evidence to document after a slip and fall accident includes:
– Photographs and videos of the scene of the accident. Take photos and videos with your phone from different angles as soon as possible after the accident. You need to show what the condition of the accident location was like when the slip and fall occurred.
– Witness statements. Ask for contact information and statements about what witnesses saw. The sooner you get this information after the accident occurred, the more reliable and credible it is.
– Surveillance footage or other video footage. If the slip and fall occurred in a public place, there may be security camera footage of the accident. Additionally, the accident may have been captured on a doorbell camera or by a bystander while filming something else. Try to locate as many sources of video footage of the slip and fall itself.
– Incident report. Report the slip and fall to someone in charge if the accident occurred in a public place. Often, they will fill out an incident report, which you should get a copy of.
– Police report. If police do come to the scene and write a report, you can later request a copy of the police report.
– Your medical records. If you were injured in the fall, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible after the accident and continue treatment as recommended by your doctor. Also keep a log of the severity and timing of your symptoms in the days and weeks following the accident.
Your attorney may suggest or request additional evidence as you build your case, especially evidence showing how the injury has affected your life and livelihood.
Call the Personal Injury Attorneys at The Carolina Law Group
Were you injured in a slip and fall accident? If you were and you did not collect all the evidence listed above, it’s not too late – call the personal injury lawyers at The Carolina Law Group. We can help you gather evidence and build a strong case so you can get the compensation you need to cover medical bills, lost wages, and more resulting from your injuries. We work on a contingency basis and only get paid if you do. We’re ready to help you get the justice you deserve – call us today to schedule your free, no obligation consultation.
The Carolina Law Group has four offices in South Carolina for your convenience: Greenville (principal office; call 864.312.4444), Greer (principal office; call 864.757.5555), Spartanburg (principal office; call 864.312.4444) & West Columbia (principal office; call 803.881.1110).
Call us at one of our four offices or contact us online to schedule your free consultation with one of our attorneys. Our business hours are Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 5:30pm & Friday 8:30 am – 5 pm. Weekend and evening hours by appointment only. Our Greenville, SC law firm offers Spanish, Hindi, and Gujarati language translation services for your convenience.