A slip and fall has the potential to change your life. A fall can lead to serious injuries to a victim’s head, chest, or back. If you fall at the Queens Botanical Garden or in another part of New York, you don’t have to suffer in silence. Here are the five most important steps you should take after slipping and falling at the Queens Botanical Garden or elsewhere in the greater New York City area.

Step #1: Seek Medical Assistance

There is nothing more important than your health. Immediate medical attention is essential for pain relief and a fast recovery. The medical report resulting from your treatment has the potential to tip the scales of justice in your favor.

A call to 911 followed by a doctor’s visit sets the stage for a successful personal injury lawsuit. Timely and comprehensive medical reports are integral to proving there is a causal relationship between the Queens Botanical Garden’s negligence and your slip and fall. 

Negligence is a legal term regularly used by attorneys and judges. In plain terms, negligence is when a party fails to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances.

Step #2: Document the Incident

Chances are someone witnessed your slip and fall in Queens. Ask those around you for witness statements. Record those statements using your smartphone’s video-recording feature. 

You should also use your smartphone to take pictures of the accident site and your injuries. If there are puddles, sticky residue, or other hazardous conditions on the floor, take pictures of those as well.

When reporting the injury to the manager or owner, state the time when it happened and also the location. There might be video surveillance footage of the incident that shows the slip and fall. Such footage will help prove your injury has a causal relationship to the wet or sticky floor. Forward that footage to your personal injury attorney in Queens for review.

Step #3: Request an Incident Report

Ask the manager for an incident report. If you fail to complete such a report, it will be difficult to prove that the slip and fall actually occurred. Be descriptive when writing down the details of the accident. 

Write down the specific day and time when the accident occurred. The description of the floor condition is essential. If the floor was wet, sticky, puddled or otherwise compromised, make note of it. Even cracked pavement can be proof of negligence.

Request a copy of the completed incident report. Make a second copy of the report to forward to your attorney.

Step #4: Request More Information

Ask for the name and contact information of the manager and owner. Write down those details as they have the potential to help your case. 

The manager and owner might be called upon as witnesses or named as defendants in the ensuing lawsuit. Use your smartphone when interacting with the manager or owner. Record the conversation to capture all the details. 

The manager or employee might also make the mistake of admitting fault. For example, admitting that there was a puddle on the floor that was not cleaned up by maintenance will strengthen your case, especially if you record the admission on your smartphone for future reference.

Step #5: Contact an Attorney

An experienced slip and fall attorney will help you obtain financial compensation for this injustice. Choose wisely, and your legal representative could help you win a settlement or court award. 

The optimal outcome is financial compensation for damages ranging from injury to medical bills, medication, lost wages, and more. When considering prospective attorneys to handle your slip and fall case in Queens, prioritize experience. Ask candidates for proof of their favorable settlements and court awards in similar cases.

A slip and fall can render you unable to work and injured for life. You deserve compensation for this injustice. Contact a Queens slip and fall accident lawyer today to schedule a free consultation.

Contact Our Slip and Fall Law Firm in New York City

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Manhattan, NY, and need legal help, contact our Queens slip and fall lawyers at Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We also serve in Brooklyn and the Bronx.

Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers – New York City Office
100 Wall St 24th Floor
New York, NY 10005
(212) 514-5007

Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers – Bronx Office
1578 Williamsbridge Rd suite 3b
Bronx, NY 10461
(212) 514-5007
(917) 905-2339

Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers – Brooklyn Office
32 Court St #704
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(212) 514-5007
(917) 920-7332