A slip and fall accident can result in painful, permanent injuries that impact your health and life in ways that you cannot begin to imagine at the time of the fall. Hotels are a common site for slip and fall accidents. If you are injured in a fall at a hotel or resort, it is crucial you take steps to protect your health and your right to file a legal claim for damages.
- Steps to Take After a Hotel Slip and Fall Accident
If you are injured in a fall at a hotel or resort, you need to take steps to protect your right to recover compensation for your injuries.
- Report the Accident
Immediately report the incident to hotel management and request a copy of the accident report. Note the names of all hotel staff members you interact with after the fall.
- Seek Medical Care
You should always seek medical attention to protect your health and to document your injury. You may have suffered a closed head injury or another injury that is difficult to diagnose. A prompt and thorough medical examination can protect your long-term health. Furthermore, by seeking medical care, you are creating a record of your injuries.
Always keep doctor appointments and follow your doctor’s care instructions. You do not want to give the hotel any reason to claim your injuries are not as severe as you state.
- Refrain from Providing Statements to Insurance Adjusters or Others
The hotel, its insurance company, or its lawyer may request a written or recorded statement regarding the fall. The hotel could hire a private investigator to talk to you. Anything you say, even the most innocent comment, can be twisted by the hotel’s lawyers and insurance company. It is always in your best interest to consult with a slip and fall lawyer before you provide statements other than reporting the initial accident.
- Documentation
If possible, take pictures of the surrounding area immediately after the accident. To prove the hotel was negligent, you must show that a dangerous condition existed and the hotel failed to use reasonable care in maintaining the premises. Photographs can be extremely important to show the premises at the time of the fall.
Keep detailed notes about your conversations regarding the accident, copies of all medical records, and a journal detailing your recovery (i.e. pain, the impact of injury on daily activities, limitations caused by injury, etc.).
- Begin Gathering Evidence
As soon as practical, send a written notice to the hotel to request that video surveillance from the area be preserved and request a copy of the surveillance footage. Also, request copies of maintenance records.
At the accident scene, note the names and contact information for any eyewitnesses. Eyewitness testimony can be a very powerful piece of evidence in a hotel slip and fall accident.
Preserve the clothing and shoes you were wearing at the time of the fall. If the hotel denies your injury claim, you may need these items as evidence.
- Contact an Ontario Slip and Fall Lawyer
You may want to consider using an Ontario slip and fall lawyer to help you with investigating the accident and securing evidence. A lawyer is familiar with the process of proving negligence allegations. A lawyer knows how to identify the responsible parties, a vital step to recover compensation for your injuries, in addition to the evidence required to prove the elements of negligence.
Call Our Office Now for a Free Consultation with an Ontario Slip and Fall Lawyer
Contact Diamond and Diamond 24/7 by calling our injury hotline at 1-800-567-HURT or by visiting our website to speak to someone now. We offer free consultations and case evaluations.
