Department stores have a legal obligation to ensure that the premises is safe for their customers. Wet floors, loose carpeting, or a broken escalator can cause falls that result in a serious injury. If you’ve been injured in a fall at a department store, you should discuss your case with an experienced San Luis Obispo injury attorney to understand your rights and determine whether you should pursue a claim. 

1. Seek Medical Treatment

Slip and fall accidents can result in serious injuries. In some cases, you may have no choice but to seek immediate medical attention. In others, you may be tempted to take some ibuprofen and assume that things will take care of themselves. Unfortunately, many injuries sustained during a slip and fall accident do not manifest themselves right away. Torn ligaments, minor fractures, concussions, and spinal injuries may not be immediately apparent, and failure to seek timely diagnosis and treatment could make the injury worse and lead to further complications. If you’ve slipped and fallen, the best thing you can do is to get a thorough medical examination as soon as possible. 

2. Report the Accident to the Store Manager

Another important step is to report the accident. Inform the nearest employee that you have slipped and fallen and would like to report the accident to the store manager. If you are in considerable pain, ask someone to help you. Explain what happened in as much detail as possible. Perhaps most importantly, ask the manager to make a written report and provide you with a copy before you leave. 

3. Get Contact Information from Any Witnesses

If there were any witnesses to the fall, ask them to provide you with their contact information – their phone numbers (home, work, and especially their cell phone), email address, and home address. In the event that you need to pursue a claim for your injuries, you may need witnesses to corroborate important details concerning your accident. You also want to be sure to get the name and contact information of any store employees who were present, including the manager to which you reported the accident. 

4. Identify the Cause of Your Accident

If the store owner has failed to address a dangerous condition that they knew or should have known about, they may be held liable for your injuries. To that end, make a note of what caused your accident – wet floors with no sign? A broken escalator? Broken flooring or loose carpeting? Whatever the cause, take plenty of pictures with your phone to document the cause of your accident. A San Luis Obispo injury attorney can evaluate whether the department store owner should be held liable for your injuries. 

5. Document Your Case

You need to keep careful records so that you can prove that you were injured as a result of your fall. This means taking lots of pictures of your injuries, as well as keeping copies of any paperwork related to your accident. Specifically, you need to keep copies of the following: 

• Medical bills resulting from any medical treatment resulting from your injury including physical or rehabilitative therapy
• Reports from your doctor describing your injuries, their cause, the necessary treatment, how long your recovery will take, and whether you will have any disabilities or limitations
• Copies of the accident report and any statements from witnesses

You will need all of your photos and documents to prove your case if you decide to pursue a claim. Keep them handy and organized in a safe place. 

Call a San Luis Obispo Injury Attorney if You’ve Been Injured in a Slip and Fall Accident

Perhaps the most important thing you can do after a slip and fall is to contact an experienced San Luis Obispo injury attorney. Lawyer Earl A. Conaway, III helps injury victims in the San Luis Obispo area get the compensation they deserve. To schedule a free consultation with Mr. Conaway, contact us today at (805) 546-8797.