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What to Do After a Slip and Fall in Prince George’s County

If you are injured in a slip and fall, you should report it to the store or the premises first, if you can find someone. If it is a store, report it to the manager, and if it’s an owner of a private residence, then you can either write a letter to them or knock on their door and let them know that you slipped and fell. You should take pictures of the scene and your injuries and then write down exactly how the accident happened while it’s fresh in your mind. That way you can preserve your story of how it happened. Oftentimes if you don’t write it down, you forget about certain things, which is not going to be helpful for you. For your own sake, you should definitely try to document how the accident happened and what caused you to fall or become injured. One of the defenses that an attorney will use in a premises liability case will be that whatever caused you to fall was not the defect you are claiming and that it must have been something else. The more clearly you can articulate what caused your accident and, subsequently, your injuries, the more leverage you will have with the insurance company or defense counsel. If you have more leverage, you’ll be able to negotiate a better offer than the one they’re offering because they will typically offer you a lower sum in order to make you go away.

Are there certain things that are important to do following the accident?

Yes, take pictures and write down how the accident happened with as much specificity as possible. Be sure to include where you were, what you were doing, what caused you to fall, whether there were any witnesses and if so, who they were, whether you reported your accident to anyone, and whether you have a way to contact them if need be in the future. Take pictures of everything around you so that you can keep the image as crystal clear in your mind as possible in terms of what happened, how it happened, and who is to blame.

Why is it important to hire an attorney for a slip and fall case?

It is important for the same reason it would be in any personal injury case; an attorney can handle the nuances better than a lay person. An attorney can also plan a stronger case than an ordinary person. An attorney will know what questions to ask the defendants and what type of testimony will best help their case.

What can an attorney do for an individual in a slip and fall case?

An attorney can help the person present the best case possible in order to help them recover adequate compensation for their injuries. An attorney can better help the injured person oppose any arguments made by the defense. In short, an attorney can be a trusted guide that will assist an injured person navigate unfamiliar, confusing, and complicated territory that is part and parcel with bringing a claim for personal injuries for a slip and fall or other premises liability cases.

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