What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident in Waldorf, Maryland
Slip and fall accidents in Waldorf, MD, are common and occur almost anywhere, like a store, a gas station, on a sidewalk outside a building, etc. Injuries can be quite severe, depending on the circumstances. A victim can suffer broken bones, damage to knees, elbows, ankles, and tendons, bruises, cuts, head and spinal injuries, and much more. The causes of slip and fall accidents can be as varied as the injuries they cause. These include puddled liquid, slippery surfaces, ripped carpets, uneven steps, broken concrete and tiles, obstructions, and much more.
If you have been injured, you have a right to seek compensation from the property owner or other person responsible for any hazardous or dangerous condition that caused your slip and fall. Seeking just and full compensation can be difficult, and it is best to seek legal advice and services from experienced and top-tier Maryland slip and fall accident personal injury attorneys. Contact us here at the Law Office of Robert Castro. Our number is (301) 870-1200. We have offices in Waldorf, Maryland, and provide legal services for Waldorf, La Plata, Clinton, Bowie, Greenbelt, Landover, and other communities in Southern Maryland. Here is what we suggest you do after a slip and fall accident in Waldorf, Maryland.
The first step is, of course, to seek medical attention from professionals. This should start with emergency care from first responders. Slip and fall accidents can result in many types of injuries that do not necessarily manifest symptoms immediately. Thus, it is wise to seek help from those near the accident site, call 911, and get medical treatment at the emergency room. You may not need it, but as the saying goes, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Next, if you are able and have a cellphone camera, take a few photos/video of the accident scene. Focus, if you can, on what you think caused your slip and fall, whether an obstruction, a crack or imperfection on the walkway, something wet or slippery on the floor, or something else. This might be important to your case particularly if the condition is temporary, like a puddle of liquid that might dry up and evaporate or an obstruction that might be moved and put back where it belongs.
Next, it is important to report the accident to your own insurance carrier and to the owner of the premises. This reporting will require the owner to notify its insurance carrier. Generally, claims for compensation start with claims made to insurance companies.
As you begin to heal, you can continue the process of collecting evidence that you can provide to your personal injury attorney. If you were able, you already have some photos and maybe a video. At this point, you want to take other photos and videos of your injuries. These photos may not be pleasant, but they will be needed for the insurance company (and, potentially, needed to show the jury if the case must be filed in Maryland county courts). Other evidence that you should collect include:
- Any and all medical-related invoices
- Documents related to any lost work or income
- Repair or replacement costs for any property that might have been damaged or broken in the fall
One Thing NOT to Do
Aside from the foregoing things you SHOULD do, one thing NOT to do is talk to the at-fault party’s insurance company until you have consulted with your own attorney. The insurance company representative is trained to obtain statements from you that can hurt your case. Something as simple as, “How do you feel today?” So, put off talking to the other side’s insurance company until you retain your own attorney and have had time for a consultation.
Contact Waldorf, MD Personal Injury Attorney Robert Castro Today
This article has been provided by the Law Office of Robert Castro. For more information or questions, contact our office to speak to an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer at (301) 870-1200. We are Waldorf, MD, Personal Injury lawyers. Our address is 2670 Crain Highway, Waldorf, MD 20601.
