What You Should Do Next
If you were injured in a slip and fall at a resort in Florida, you are probably asking yourself the same question most people ask:
What should I do next?
You may be in pain, away from home, and unsure whether the resort will take responsibility for what happened. You may also assume that the property will preserve the evidence and handle the situation fairly.
I would not make that assumption.
Slip-and-fall cases can be difficult, and resorts and their insurance companies often defend them aggressively. The steps you take immediately after the accident can make a major difference in whether your case can be proven later.
The first thing I tell people is simple: document everything.
Take Pictures of the Accident Scene
If you are physically able to do so, take photographs and videos of the exact area where you fell.
Do not just take one picture. Capture the scene from several angles and distances. Make sure the photos show whatever caused you to slip or trip, including:
- Water or another liquid on the floor
- Uneven pavement or flooring
- A damaged walkway
- Loose carpeting or mats
- Poor lighting
- Debris or objects in a walking area
- The absence of warning signs
This evidence matters because dangerous conditions can disappear quickly.
A resort employee may clean up a spill. A damaged area may be repaired. A warning sign may be placed after the accident. By the time an attorney or investigator visits the property, the scene may look completely different.
Your photographs may be the best evidence of what was actually there when you fell.
Get Contact Information From Witnesses
If anyone saw the accident, get that person’s name and contact information.
A witness may be another guest, a resort employee, a family member, or someone who saw the dangerous condition before you fell. Their statement could become important six months or a year later when the insurance company starts questioning what happened.
Do not assume the resort will identify every witness for you.
Ask for the witness’s:
- Full name
- Phone number
- Email address
- A brief description of what they saw
Witnesses can help confirm that the condition existed, that there were no warnings, or that the resort knew about the danger before your accident.
Report the Fall to the Resort Immediately
Tell resort management about the accident as soon as possible and ask for an incident report to be created.
Make sure the report accurately describes where the fall happened and what caused it. Ask for a copy, although the resort may not always provide one immediately.
You should also write down the names and job titles of the employees you spoke with.
Reporting the accident creates a record showing that the incident happened when and where you say it did. Without that record, the resort or insurance company may later claim that the accident was never reported or that the facts are unclear.
Ask About Surveillance Video
Many Florida resorts use security cameras in lobbies, hallways, pool areas, restaurants, parking areas, and other common spaces.
That footage may show:
- How long the dangerous condition existed
- Whether employees walked past it
- Whether another guest reported the hazard
- The moment the fall occurred
- Whether warning signs were present
- What employees did after the accident
Surveillance footage can be extremely valuable, but it may not be saved forever. Some systems automatically record over older footage.
That is one reason you should contact a Florida slip-and-fall attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can send a formal preservation request asking the resort to retain relevant video and other evidence.
The longer you wait, the greater the chance that important footage may be lost.
Why Resort Slip-and-Fall Cases Are Defended So Aggressively
Insurance companies often begin these cases with the assumption that the injured person is exaggerating or looking for a financial windfall.
That may sound unfair, but it is the reality of how many slip-and-fall claims are handled.
The insurance company may argue that:
- The dangerous condition was open and obvious
- You should have seen the hazard
- The resort did not know the condition existed
- The condition had not been there long enough for employees to discover it
- Your injuries were not caused by the fall
- You are exaggerating the effect of your injuries
That is why evidence is so important.
It is not enough to say that you fell and were injured. We need evidence showing what caused the fall, why the resort may be responsible, and how the accident affected your health.
Get Medical Treatment for Your Injuries
If you are injured, seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Some people try to continue their vacation and hope the pain will go away. I understand why. They spent money on the trip, they are with their family, and they do not want the accident to ruin everything.
But delaying treatment can create problems for both your health and your legal claim.
The insurance company may argue that if you were seriously injured, you would have sought care immediately. It may also claim that something else caused your symptoms during the delay.
Medical records create an evidence trail connecting the resort accident to your injuries. Follow your doctors’ recommendations and continue treatment after returning home if necessary.
Preserve Your Clothing and Shoes
Do not throw away the clothing or shoes you were wearing at the time of the fall.
Your shoes may become relevant if the resort claims that your footwear caused the accident. Clothing may also contain stains, damage, or other evidence connected to the condition that caused the fall.
Place these items somewhere safe and do not alter or clean them until you have spoken with an attorney.
Do Not Give the Insurance Company a Recorded Statement Alone
After the fall, an insurance adjuster may contact you and ask for a recorded statement.
The adjuster may sound friendly and act like the call is simply part of the process. But the insurance company is looking for information it can use to defend the claim.
A poorly worded answer can be taken out of context and used against you later.
Before giving a statement or signing documents, talk to an attorney who understands Florida resort injury cases and can help protect your interests.
Why Acting Quickly Matters
Slip-and-fall cases become harder to prove as time passes.
The condition may be cleaned up. Video may be erased. Witnesses may leave the resort and become difficult to find. Employees may forget what happened. Important records may disappear.
The sooner an attorney becomes involved, the sooner evidence can be identified and preserved.
In these cases, waiting rarely helps.
How The Jaspon Firm Can Help
When you hire me, my job is to investigate what happened and build the evidence needed to prove your case.
That may include:
- Preserving surveillance footage
- Gathering photographs and incident reports
- Interviewing witnesses
- Reviewing resort maintenance and inspection records
- Documenting your medical treatment
- Dealing directly with the insurance company
- Pursuing fair compensation for your injuries
Resorts and their insurers have people working to protect them. You should have someone working to protect you.
Contact Jeremiah Jaspon After a Florida Resort Slip and Fall
If you were injured in a slip and fall at a Florida resort, do not wait until the evidence is gone.
Take pictures, collect witness information, report the accident, get medical treatment, and speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Contact Jeremiah Jaspon at The Jaspon Firm today. ➜ (407) 513-9515
I will personally discuss what happened, explain your options, and help you take the next steps to protect your resort injury claim.