If you are injured because of a dangerous condition on someone else’s property in Michigan, what you do immediately afterward can affect both your health and your ability to document what happened. Evidence such as surveillance footage, photographs, incident reports, and witness information can disappear quickly.
Premises liability cases are a type of Michigan personal injury claim involving injuries caused by unsafe property conditions. Depending on the circumstances, a property owner, business, or other responsible party may be liable when a hazardous condition causes an injury.
Below are important steps to take after a premises liability accident in Michigan and the evidence that may help protect your claim.
If you were injured because of a dangerous property condition and want to understand how Michigan premises-liability law works, our Michigan premises liability laws resource explains land-possessor duties, dangerous conditions, notice, comparative fault, and the current open-and-obvious framework. This article focuses specifically on the practical steps to take after an injury occurs.
Report the Accident
Notify the property owner or manager about what happened before you leave. If the accident took place at a business, ask them to create a written incident report and get a copy for yourself.
You should also stick to the facts when explaining what happened and be careful about speculating. Under Michigan’s comparative negligence law, anything you say that suggests you share some of the blame could reduce what you’re able to recover.
See a Doctor Right Away
Get medical attention as soon as you can, even if you feel okay in the moment. Injuries like concussions and soft tissue damage don’t always produce immediate symptoms. Seeing a doctor promptly also creates a medical record linking your injuries to the accident, which is essential for your claim.
Document the Scene
If your condition allows, pull out your phone and start collecting evidence before you leave.
Useful evidence to collect includes:
- Photos and videos of the hazard that caused your slip and fall as well as your injuries
- Footage of the surrounding area showing whether warning signs were present
- Contact information for anyone who saw what happened
- Notes about the date and time
The more you document in real time, the harder it becomes for the property owner to dispute what happened later on.
Be Careful With the Insurance Company
The property owner’s insurer will likely reach out to you soon after the accident. They’ll seem concerned, but their goal is to close your claim for as little as possible. Keep the following in mind:
- Don’t give a recorded statement without talking to a lawyer first
- Don’t sign anything they send you before having it reviewed
- Don’t accept an early settlement offer while you’re still in treatment
- Don’t post about your accident or injuries on social media
Early settlement offers almost never reflect the true value of your claim. Let an attorney handle these interactions so nothing you say gets used against you.
Save Your Records
Keep every document related to your accident organized and accessible, meaning everything from medical bills to correspondence with the property owner. Thorough documentation strengthens your negotiating position and makes it harder for the other side to challenge the value of your claim.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Michigan Premises Liability Attorney
Evidence in premises liability cases can disappear quickly. Surveillance footage may be overwritten, hazardous conditions can be repaired, and witnesses can become more difficult to locate. Acting early can help preserve evidence while it is still available.
Khamo Law Accident & Injury Lawyers represents people injured because of dangerous property conditions and other forms of negligence throughout Michigan. Our attorneys have recovered more than $40 million for clients and handle personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis, meaning attorney’s fees are not owed unless compensation is recovered.
If you were injured on someone else’s property, call 248-466-0606 or contact Khamo Law online for a free consultation.