What To Do After a Slip and Fall
No win, no fee slip and fall lawyers: You pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
A slip and fall often happens when you least expect it and can lead to serious setbacks — injuries, time off work, and medical bills you might not be able to afford. Whether it’s an uneven sidewalk or a wet floor in a grocery store, what you do next can make all the difference in how things unfold.
Not sure what to do after a slip and fall in San Francisco? This guide can help you move forward.
1. See a Doctor
We can’t stress this enough. Even if your injuries don’t seem that bad, get medical help right after your accident. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Getting checked by a doctor can catch serious health complications early and ensure you get the right treatment. It also creates an official medical record if you file a personal injury claim.
Slips and falls can cause all kinds of problems:
Common slip and fall injuries
- Fractures and broken bones
- Concussions and brain injuries
- Back and spinal injuries
- Long-term mobility issues
There are also injuries that people can’t see, such as depression and PTSD. Whatever you’re going through, go see a doctor before doing anything else.
Note: If you’re seriously injured, please call emergency services immediately or ask someone nearby for help.
2. Document Absolutely Everything
Evidence can fade quickly, so try to gather as much as you can after your accident (if it’s safe to do so). Solid proof of what happened may increase your chances of securing compensation.
Start by taking photos of:
- Your injuries, even if they don’t cause any pain
- The location where you fell
- Any hazards that caused the fall — wet floors, broken sidewalk slabs, etc.
- What you were wearing
- The surrounding area
Then make a note of:
- The time and date of the fall
- What you were doing right before the fall
- Names and contact details of any witnesses
Not sure what evidence you need to support a personal injury claim in San Francisco? Contact Stoll & Haynes now at 415-576-1500. We’ll tell you what to do after a slip and fall.
3. Report the Incident
This part is important, and it’s something many people forget after a slip and fall. If your accident occurred in a public place or business, you’ll want to notify the staff or management right away. In other words, tell whoever’s in charge what happened rather than just leaving. If you can’t do so because of your injuries, remember to return as soon as you’re able to.
The property manager (or whoever’s in charge) may ask you to sign an incident report. Make sure you read everything carefully before you do. You can always say you want to review the document first, or have a slip and fall attorney in San Francisco go over it for you.
Note: Keep a copy of the incident report in a safe place.
Reporting your slip and fall matters for several reasons:
- It creates a record showing when, where, and how the incident transpired.
- If you don’t report your fall, the at-fault party’s insurance company might argue that the accident didn’t happen the way you know it did.
- The property’s staff can keep the area safe, preventing the same thing from happening to someone else.
Recommended reading: What is the average slip and fall settlement in California?
4. Don’t Admit Fault
Be careful what you say to anyone involved in your slip and fall injury or claim. Whether you’re talking to the property manager or an insurance company, avoid comments that could be twisted and used against you later. This means statements like:
- “I wasn’t paying attention.”
- “I should have been more careful.”
- “I feel fine.”
- “It wasn’t that serious.”
Saying the wrong thing can hurt your personal injury claim, so it’s best to stick to factual statements like:
- “I fell over here.”
- “I’m not sure how serious my injuries are yet.”
- “I might need medical attention.”
5. Know What Your Rights Are
Under California law, property owners (and those who control property) have a responsibility to keep their premises in a reasonably safe condition, which generally means inspecting the property and identifying any hazards. If they uncover something dangerous, they must fix it or give a warning when they can’t fix it straight away.
When this doesn’t happen, the property owner may be considered negligent.
If you were injured in a slip and fall due to someone else’s negligence, you could be entitled to compensation. Depending on your circumstances, this might include damages for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma.
6. Contact a San Francisco Slip and Fall Attorney
If you don’t know what to do after a slip and fall, our advice is to get in touch with a personal injury attorney with experience in premises liability matters. The right one can explain your legal options in plain English and guide you through next steps.
Stoll & Haynes has supported slip and fall injury victims in the Bay Area since 1994. Here’s just one of our client victories:
Slip and fall in store
Amount awarded: $350,000
When a customer tripped over signage in a store and suffered a foot fracture and complications, we held the store liable for failing to maintain a safe environment.
Read more of our success stories.
Results depend on the facts of each case and aren’t guaranteed outcomes.
Recommended reading: How to Prove a Slip and Fall Case in California
What To Do After a Slip and Fall Accident FAQs
See a doctor as soon as you can, even if your injuries seem minor. Also, document what happened, report the incident, and speak with a San Francisco slip and fall accident attorney.
Take photos of the scene and your injuries to support your compensation claim. You’ll also want to make a note of the date and time of the accident and collect contact details from any witnesses.
In California, you generally have 2 years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim, but it’s best to take action as soon as possible. Cases involving the City or County of San Francisco could have shorter deadlines.
Slip and fall claims involving smaller injuries could end up settling for a few thousand dollars, while more serious cases may lead to higher compensation amounts of hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.
Our personal injury firm in San Francisco has extensive experience with slip and fall cases of all kinds, as well as other premises liability matters. We operate on a contingency basis, meaning you won’t pay any attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
When To Contact a Slip and Fall Lawyer in San Francisco
If you’re not sure what to do after a slip and fall, get legal advice immediately. Stoll & Haynes can help you determine the best course of action based on your circumstances.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need advice about your specific situation, please contact Stoll & Haynes directly.