If you were injured in a slip and fall accident in Detroit, there are several important steps you need to take (including hiring an experienced slip and fall lawyer) to preserve your legal rights and ensure you will recover for your pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages.
The steps you need to take after an accident are: (1) seek prompt medical attention; (2) determine where and how you fell; (3) explain why you didn’t see the hazard; (4) comply with any notice requirements; (5) file an incident report; (6) understand the insurance company’s tactics; (7) document the scene; and (8) hire the best slip and fall lawyer you can find.
A seasoned attorney who specializes exclusively in slip and fall accident cases and has both a track record of success and reputation for being a tenacious litigator is your best bet when it comes to a large settlement in less time. Best of all, a reputable attorney will never charge you a consultation fee or ask you to pay any costs up front or out of pocket. You will never pay a dime until you win your case!
If you are wondering what your settlement might be worth, use this slip and fall settlement calculator to get an estimate.
What should I do if I was injured in a slip and fall?
If you are wondering what to do after a slip and fall accident, you are not alone. If you happen to be the victim of a slip and fall accident, you should take these important steps:
- Seek prompt medical attention
- Determine where and how you fell
- Explain why you didn’t see the hazard
- Comply with notice requirements
- File an incident report
- Understand the insurance company’s tactics
- Document the scene
- Hire the best lawyer you can find
Seek prompt medical attention
Getting medical attention as soon as possible after an accident is critical for two reasons: (1) it will help your recovery; and (2) it will help your case against the at-fault party. Even if you don’t think you’re hurt, or you believe your injuries are minor, it’s still important to be seen promptly so your doctor can treat you properly. Getting treated right away also allows you to connect your injuries to the slip and fall accident. If you wait too long, the insurance adjuster may suggest that your injuries didn’t happen because of your fall.
Determine where and how you fell
Slip and fall victims must be able to identify both the exact location of the fall and the cause of the fall in order to hold a property owner responsible. An experienced slip and fall lawyer can help you to identify what the property owner did, or failed to do, that caused the accident. Keep in mind that time is of the essence.
Explain why you didn’t see the hazard
To hold a property owner or manager liable for a hidden danger, you must be able to explain why a reasonable person in your position could not see the dangerous condition that caused the accident. Even if you are paying careful attention, it’s still possible to miss a hazard.
Comply with notice requirements
If you were injured on government property in Detroit, there are certain notice requirements you must comply with or your lawsuit will be dismissed. A free consultation with an experienced slip and fall lawyer who specializes in this area of law can help you avoid a critical that will deny you fair compensation for your injuries.
File an incident report
Filing an incident report after your slip and fall will prevent the property owner or manager from later denying that the accident occurred as it documents the occurrence and provides additional important details.
Understand the insurance company’s tactics
The insurance company is not your friend and they don’t want to pay you for your slip and fall injuries. As such, they will attempt to blame you for your fall be claiming you: 1) were not paying attention; (2) were not looking where you were going; and/or (3) were aware that the dangerous condition existed. Your best defense against the “blame game” is to hire an experienced attorney who knows how to put an end to it.
Document the scene
Get photos and videos because the property owner or manager is likely to fix or clean up the hazardous condition that caused your injury as soon as you leave the premises. Also, talk to witness and get contact information. Finally, hire a skilled lawyer who can file a notice to preserve evidence, preventing the owner or manager from destroying important evidence such as surveillance video.
Hire the best lawyer you can find
Perhaps the most important thing you can do to maximize your settlement and get a quick payment is to hire the best slip and fall lawyer you can find. An experienced lawyer who specializes exclusively in slip and fall accidents, has a track record of success (including million-dollar settlements and verdicts), and has a reputation for being a skilled trial lawyer is often the difference between winning a significant verdict or having your case tossed out of court. And there’s no risk in hiring the best as all good slip and fall lawyers work on a contingency fee, meaning they won’t get paid unless you win. So, don’t take any chances – hire the best and get the compensation you deserve!
Named a “Leader in the Law” and “Lawyer of the Year” by Michigan’s largest legal newspaper for his record-breaking auto accident verdicts, settlements and advocacy work in preventing wrecks, Steven Gursten heads Michigan Auto Law—a firm dedicated to serious motor vehicle accident injury cases and wrongful death lawsuits.
