Indianapolis Slip and Fall Lawyer

• Report the accident immediately to the owner or property manager. Ask for a copy of a written, formal report.
• Record the names and contact information of any witnesses to the accident. Witness statements may help substantiate a claim.
• The full extent of injuries is rarely immediately obvious after an accident. Do not assume that you are not hurt, but promptly get a medical evaluation. If legal action becomes necessary, medical records may form important evidence.
• Take pictures of the location and record the facts of the accident, including the date, day, time, weather, and any other relevant information. Note any conditions that may have contributed to the accident.
• Keep the shoes and clothing you were wearing at the time of the accident in a sealed bag for possible future examination.

• Do not make any statements about the accident to anyone other than the property owner, law enforcement, and your medical professionals.
• Do not minimize your potential or unknown injuries and say, “I’m okay,” before you undergo a medical examination. Do not admit blame (“It’s my fault”), or say you caused the accident if there was no formal review of the evidence.
• Do not post anything on social media or any public platform.

Insurance companies make the greatest profits by selling the maximum number of policies and paying the minimum amount for claims. Lawyers will represent the property owner’s insurance company, and they will seek to discredit you and disprove or limit any potential claims. They may employ private investigators to monitor social media and find evidence that may hurt your case, such as comments about your injuries or photos of physical activities after the accident.

The following commonly cause accidents:

• Poorly maintained, wet, or slippery floors
• Debris on floors, walkways, or parking lots
• Broken stairs
• Poor lighting or insufficient security
• Broken sidewalks
• Snow, ice, or water on sidewalks
• Poor construction
• Defective materials
• Building code violations

Slips and falls can cause temporary or long-term, life-changing, and expensive injuries:

• Sprains
• Contusions
• Hyperextensions
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Broken bones
• Spinal cord damage

Slip and fall injuries range in severity. A sprained ankle may last a few days, but a spinal cord injury could cause permanent nerve damage, cognitive impairments, and paralysis. Serious injuries may also result in significant economic consequences for accident victims by preventing them from working, or requiring them to hire long-term care.

Regardless of whether you were a customer, tenant, or guest at a property, if you were injured in a slip and fall accident, Indiana law may entitle you to compensation. Indiana law protects your rights regardless of whether you were injured on government or municipal property, at a commercial property, or in a private home. When property owners were negligent in their duty of care, victims may recover the medical, economic, and other costs incurred by the accident.

Damages depend on many factors, including the extent of injuries and the consequences for the victim. Victims may sustain medical, economic, or non-economic, personal injury damages, including:

• Medical costs, including ambulance rides, hospitalizations, doctor visits, surgeries, radiology, and prescription medication
• Lost wages
• Lost future wages, or lost earning capacity
• Physical therapy and future treatment
• Rehabilitation and recovery costs, including assistive devices
• Long-term care for permanent disability
• Pain and suffering
• Lost enjoyment of life
• Disfigurement
• Emotional trauma
• Stress
• Lost consortium

Expert witnesses who review the economic condition of the victim before the accident, including prior tax returns and income information, can help determine economic damages, then project the consequences of the injuries for the victim’s future earnings. While immediate lost wages are a straightforward metric, calculating long-term damages in more serious cases can prove complex. Factors to consider include the age, education, and skills of the victim, and whether the accident has changed the victim’s ability to work in the same capacity, or at all.