Do's and Dont's After a Slip and Fall Accident

1. Do’s and Don’ts After a Slip and Fall Accident Proven Tips to Win a Claim 215-791-8911 www.cordiscosaile.com Michael L. Saile, Jr. Managing Attorney Cordisco & Saile LLC www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsaile/

2. Slip and Fall Accident Claims Slip and fall accidents happen in Bucks County, PA and nearly everywhere you and your family go including supermarkets, shopping malls, restaurants, movie theaters, your workplace, municipal parks, public streets or sidewalks, and event arenas. There are two types of falls: same level falls and elevated falls. In order to hold another party responsible for injuries suﬀered in a slip and fall accident, an injured person must typically prove Liability.

3. 1. Establish Liability

4. 1. Establish Liability in a Slip and Fall Claim *Do Use Your Cell Phone To: • Take Photos of the Accident Scene and Potential Causes • Take Photos of Your Injuries • Record Accident Scene • Record Witnesses *If you are able to use your cell phone, record as much evidence as possible

5. 1. Establish Liability in a Slip and Fall Claim Do Collect Information • Notify and collect the names of the owners and managers of the property • Write names and contact information of any witnesses Don’t Do This After the Accident • Don’t try to resolve the issue at the location • Don’t give any statements to the owner or manager • Don’t give any statements to their insurance company until you’ve spoken to an attorney • Don’t post accident details to social media

6. 2. Insurance Companies

7. 2. Talking With Insurance Companies DON’T give recorded statements to the owner’s insurance company • You are not obligated to give a recorded statement • The insurance adjuster is not on your side • Speak to an experienced personal injury attorney who handles slip and fall accidents* • Refer insurance company to your attorney for any settlement negotiations *If you were injured in a serious slip and fall accident in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and suﬀered severe injuries that led to damages, contact Cordisco & Saile LLC for help with your case. Give us a call at 215-791-8911 or use our contact form to set up a FREE consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys.

8. 3. Injuries Diagnosed

9. 3. Injuries Diagnosed DO Follow the Hospitals Instructions • Read the “discharge instructions” and follow the instructions given by hospital • Read description of your injuries • Treatment (e.g. follow-up with your family doctor) • Prescriptions (i.e. painkillers and muscle relaxers) DON’T Forget To Visit Your Family Doctor • Obtain an appointment within 2 days • Be assertive and ask about their personal injury qualiﬁcations • Ask for a referral to a qualiﬁed doctor who regularly treats traumatic injuries • Be sure your doctor is willing to write comprehensive medical reports and testify in court

10. 3. Injuries Diagnosed Common Medical Specialists for Slip and Fall Accidents • Orthopedists • Neurologists • Radiologist • Surgeons • Pain Management Doctors • Chiropractors Choosing Your Doctor Your lawyer should not refer you directly to a doctor. Juries make ﬁnd your case fraudulent manufactured by you, the doctor, and your attorney. You, your family doctor, and your loved ones should make ﬁnal medical decisions and not your lawyer.

11. 3. Injuries Diagnosed Follow All Doctor’s Instructions • You may be treated by several doctors including your family doctor, Orthopedists, Neurologist, Radiologist, Surgeons, Pain Management Doctor, or Chiropractor Follow Care Plan • Medication • Diet Restrictions • Stretching • Rest • Sleep • Physical Therapy • Exercise • Doctor Appointments (missing appointments of any kind may be used against you)

12. 3. Injuries Diagnosed DO Keep a Daily Journal • Location, intensity, and duration of your pain • Any physical and mental restrictions that you experienced due to your injuries • Any medications taken, including both prescribed and over-the-counter • Any doctor appointments that you attend and the type of treatment received • Any activities, hobbies, household or employment duties that you could not perform because of your pain and restrictions • Any activities, hobbies, household or employment duties that you did perform or partially performed, but with pain and restrictions

13. 4. Do I Have A Case?

14. 4. Do I Have A Case? The Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents • Obstruction in Walkways • Slippery Sidewalks Caused by Snow or Ice • Unmarked Changes in Elevation • Broken Steps or Platforms • Loose Floorboards • Poor Lighting • Parking Lot Potholes • Torn, Worn, Broken or Bulging Carpet • Slippery Floors (Recently Cleaned or Recently Waxed/Polished) • One or more steps are worn and rounded • Missing Handrails • Malfunctioning Escalators and Elevators

15. 4. Do I Have A Case? Business Duty to Maintain Safe Premises • Owner (or employees) knew condition existed but did not remove or repair potential danger: • a reasonable person would have identiﬁed the condition as hazardous • a reasonable person would have remedied the situation before the accident occurred if ample time was provided • Owner (or employees) actually caused the dangerous condition leading to the slip and fall accident by leaving a hazardous obstacle in a walking path and it was reasonably foreseeable that someone would trip and fall due to the condition.

16. 4. Do I Have A Case? Negligence & Liability • The term "reasonable" often comes up in settlement negotiations and at other key stages of slip and fall cases. • A “negligent” and therefore liable owner (or employee) must have failed to act as a reasonably prudent person under similar circumstances leading up to the accident. Your Involvement (Comparative Fault) • Did you engage in any activity that might have prevented you from noticing the hazard? • Did you have lawful access where the slip and fall accident occurred? • Did you ignore or not utilize safety measures (e.g. warning signs)?

17. 5. Do I Need A Lawyer?

18. 5. Do I Need A Lawyer? You DON’T Not Need A Lawyer • Little or no bodily injury • Recovery amount is too small You DO Need a Lawyer • You were badly injured • Your injuries, pain, and restrictions affects your everyday normal life • Your suffering and financial loss affects you and your family • You have lost wages and other out-of-pocket expenses

19. 6. Finding the Right Lawyer

20. 6. Finding the Right Lawyer DON’T Be Fooled By Lawyer’s Advertising • Ignore Yellow Page Ads • Ignore TV Commercials • Ignore Paid Google Ads • Rather, ask your network of friends, family members, and business contacts DO Ask Important Questions • Do they focus in slip and fall law? • What is their litigation experience? • How many past cases? • What percentage go to trial? • How many did they win? • How many current cases? • How complex? • How much time to devote to your case? • What are their acceptance guidelines?

21. 7. Cordisco & Saile

22. • Personal injury attorneys who focus on slip and fall cases in Bucks County, PA • High acceptance guidelines • Great communication with clients • Handle each case from beginning to end • Compassionate • Fair Fee Agreement • Skillful and Experienced Negotiators • Willing to File a Lawsuit

23. Recent Case Results • $2,470,000 • $1,330,000 • $1,200,000 Michael L. Saile, Jr. Managing Attorney Cordisco & Saile LLC John F. Cordisco Founding Partner Cordisco & Saile LLC

24. Thank You! Learn more about Cordisco & Saile www.cordiscosaile.com 215-791-8911 www.cordiscosaile.com Michael L. Saile, Jr. Managing Attorney Cordisco & Saile LLC www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsaile/