How to Prove Negligence in A New Haven Slip and Fall Case: Key Evidence We Look For

As the weather starts to get colder there become more and more situations that you may be put in that have the potential to end with a New Haven slip and fall accident. Often the injuries that result from a slip and fall accident are minor and may be able to be addressed with a band-aid and a little embarrassment, but there are times when a slip and fall accident actually results in a significant injury that will not only being embarrassing but could also be long lasting and cause life-long damage. This type of injury should not be ignored and when it happens you should not only seek medical attention, but you should also do your best to gather evidence of what happened to you so you can make a case around the negligence of the person who is responsible for the area where your injury occured.

As mentioned above your first and most important step is to seek medical attention. Even if you don’t think you need to see a provider, you should make an effort to be seen. Injuries that occur as the result of a slip and fall accident can be quite serious and they may not be able to be seen on the surface after an accident. Seeking medical attention will allow you to have all of your injuries looked at and a provider can address any issues that may arise as the result of the injury.

At the scene of the incident you will want to do what you can to collect key evidence that will help you make your case about the negligence that may have occurred and which may have been responsible for your injuries. If you’re not able to gather the evidence yourself due to your injuries you may need to ask for some assistance in gathering the evidence that you need to prove your injuries were the result of negligence.

Whether you are gathering the evidence yourself or someone that was with you at the time of the accident is gathering the evidence you will want them to some or all of the following evidence.

1.) Photos of what caused the accident. If you slipped down a flight of stairs you will want to get photos of a loose stairs or a railing that was in disrepair. If you were on a sidewalk, make sure that you or the person you are with documents the condition of the sidewalk and any weather related elements that may have contributed to your fall. Maybe you were walking in a store and there was a raised carpet that caused your fall, document every thing in the area.

2.) Gather witness statements. Depending on where you were and who was around at the time of the incident you may want to seek statements from anyone who saw what occurred. Make sure you collect their name and contact information in case they need to be followed up with as you’re making your case. When you speak with them they should do their best to keep emotion out of their statement and only state facts that they saw with their own eyes. Encourage them to be truthful and give their best recollection.

3.) Security camera footage. In the world we live in there are a lot of cameras recording everything around us. Whether it is a doorbell camera on the front of a home or a security camera at a place of business, you should seek the footage of any camera that was pointing in the direction of your accident so you can have documentation of the actual event. Photos of the incident are helpful, but there is nothing more helpful then actual video footage of what happened to tell the complete picture.

There are so many variables that can arise when dealing with a New Haven slip and fall accident. No two of these accidents are exactly alike so you will need to assess the situation and take the necessary steps to make sure your situation is documented well. It is most important that you take care of your health first, but once that is handled you will want to make sure to document everything you possibly can about what happened so you can make the case that it was not your fault and that there was negligence involved.

After the fact of the incident you may need to speak with an attorney who has experience handling these types of cases. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review the situation surrounding your accident and work with you to protect your long-term interests.