Slip and fall incidents cause 15% of all accidental deaths, and are second only to motor vehicle accidents as a cause of accidental deaths. Whether it occurred on sidewalk, stairway, bus, train, in a store, or a building, slip and fall accidents have one thing in common - The negligent or dangerous condition that caused your injury is usually easily and quickly cleaned up or lost. Ice melts, and spills are cleaned, but physical repairs can take longer.

Take pictures. If the condition, which caused your accident, is still visible take pictures immediately of the entire scene, as well as any cuts or bruises to your body. This may be critical years later in proving how the accident happened, and in establishing your injuries. A small black and blue mark on your knee which does not hurt very much today, may be the only evidence which links a knee surgery a year later to an accident.


Obtain the names and addresses of witnesses. This is especially important in establishing where the accident happened if there was no response by the police or ambulance services. It is also important in establishing Notice of the condition.
This is a technical legal term which means that the city, building owner, or shopkeeper, knew or should have known of the dangerous condition which caused your accident because it was there long enough for them to know about it and fix it. Your witness can often provide the evidence your lawyer needs to prove notice and win your case.

Do not speak to anyone. Insurance companies and their investigators are especially anxious to speak to you after an accident. They tape your conversations, with or without your permission in an attempt to limit their liability and exposure right from the start before you have a lawyer.


Do not complete any paperwork. Send all correspondence to your lawyers, and refer all callers to them - That's their job. The Lawyer, will investigate the accident, obtain police reports and other records pertaining to the accident, research the law, file for your medical benefits and lost wages, establish claims with defendant insurance companies, and when appropriate, commence a law suit.