(275+)Accidents happen when we least expect them. You might be walking through Rittenhouse Square, shopping at the Reading Terminal Market, or simply entering your apartment building when suddenly your feet slip from under you. In those first moments after a slip and fall accident, confusion often takes over. What steps should you take? Who should you contact? How will you handle the medical bills that might follow?
At Gibbons & Crichton, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers, we have helped countless Philadelphia residents through the aftermath of slip and fall accidents. In this guide, we outline what to do after a slip and fall accident in Philadelphia.
What To Do Immediately After a Fall
The actions you take right after a slip and fall can significantly impact your health and any potential legal claim. Here are the essential first steps everyone should know:
Seek Medical Attention
Your health comes first. Even if you feel relatively fine after a fall, some injuries might not show symptoms immediately. Head injuries, internal bleeding, and certain fractures can have delayed symptoms. For less severe injuries, one of the many urgent care facilities across the city can provide prompt attention.
Medical documentation serves a dual purpose: it ensures proper treatment for your injuries and creates an official record connecting your injuries to the accident. This documentation becomes crucial if you decide to pursue compensation later.
Report the Accident
Tell someone about your fall. The appropriate person depends on where the accident happened:
- In a store or business: Notify a manager or supervisor. Most commercial establishments in Philadelphia maintain accident reporting procedures.
- At work: Report to your supervisor and make sure an incident report gets filed. Pennsylvania workers’ compensation laws offer specific protections for workplace injuries.
- On public property: Contact the appropriate municipal department. For sidewalks or streets in Philadelphia, the Streets Department might need notification.
- In rental housing, inform your landlord or property manager in writing.
Request a copy of any written report. This creates an official record that the accident happened at a specific time and place, which helps validate your claim.
Document Everything
Evidence collection should start at the accident scene whenever possible. Philadelphia courts, like courts throughout Pennsylvania, base decisions on evidence. The stronger your evidence, the better your chances of receiving fair compensation.
Take photos of:
- The exact location where you fell
- Any conditions that contributed to your fall (wet floors, ice patches, uneven surfaces)
- Your injuries
- Your clothing and footwear
Make detailed notes about:
- The time and date
- Weather conditions, if relevant
- Lighting conditions
- Whether warning signs were present
- Names and contact information of witnesses
Save all receipts for expenses related to your injury, including transportation to medical facilities, medication costs, and any items you needed to purchase because of your injury.
What To Do in the Days Following a Slip and Fall
The period after the initial incident remains critical for protecting your health and legal rights.
Continue Medical Treatment
Follow all medical advice and attend follow-up appointments. This demonstrates that you take your injuries seriously. Philadelphia offers many specialist clinics if you need ongoing care for specific injuries, like orthopedic issues or concussions.
Keep a journal documenting:
- Pain levels
- Limitations on daily activities
- Emotional impacts
- Sleep disruptions
- Missed work or social events
This record helps establish how the injury affects your daily life, which becomes important when calculating non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
Preserve Evidence
Keep the clothing and shoes you wore during the accident without washing them. Store any physical evidence safely.
If your phone or camera captured time-stamped photos immediately after the accident, back up these files securely. Philadelphia attorneys know that digital evidence can sometimes make or break a case.
Limit Communications About Your Case
The digital age makes sharing information temptingly easy, but posting about your accident on social media can potentially harm your case. Insurance adjusters often search social media accounts, looking for posts that contradict injury claims.
Avoid discussing the fault or details of the accident with anyone except your attorney and medical providers. This includes conversations with:
- The property owner
- Insurance representatives
- Bystanders who contact you later
- Colleagues and acquaintances
Remember that Pennsylvania follows a comparative negligence rule, which means your compensation might decrease if you share fault for the accident.
Crucial Philadelphia-Specific Considerations
Philadelphia has unique characteristics that affect slip and fall cases:
- Weather factors: Philadelphia experiences all four seasons, with winter bringing snow and ice that create hazardous conditions. Property owners have specific obligations regarding snow and ice removal, according to Philadelphia Code § 10-720, which requires clearing paths within six hours after snow stops falling. Summer rainstorms can create sudden wet conditions inside stores and buildings. Property owners must take reasonable precautions during predictable weather events.
- Municipal liability: If your fall occurred on city property, special rules apply. Philadelphia operates under the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act, which limits government liability and imposes strict notice requirements. You must notify the city of your claim within six months of the accident.
- Statute of limitations: Pennsylvania law allows only two years to file a lawsuit. This timeframe applies to most slip and fall cases in Philadelphia. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to seek compensation.
When to Contact a Philadelphia Slip and Fall Attorney
Many people wonder when legal representation becomes necessary. Consider reaching out to a qualified Philadelphia personal injury attorney if:
- Your injuries required hospitalization or surgery
- You missed more than a few days of work
- The property owner or their insurance company denies responsibility
- You receive settlement offers that seem low compared to your expenses and suffering
- The accident occurred on government property, triggering special legal requirements
- The property owner lacks insurance or adequate coverage
At Gibbons & Crichton, we offer free initial consultations to discuss your case. During this meeting, we can help determine the strength of your claim and outline potential next steps.
Protecting Your Rights After a Philadelphia Slip and Fall Accident
If you have experienced a slip and fall accident in Philadelphia, we invite you to contact Gibbons & Crichton for guidance tailored to your specific situation. Our experience with Philadelphia premises liability cases positions us to help you through this challenging time and toward the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for help.
