What Should You Do After You Slip and Fall at a Maryland Business?

 Posted on December 11, 2025 in Personal Injury

Maybe you stepped on a wet floor without warning signs; maybe a broken tile caught your foot. However it happened, you fell down in a store, restaurant, or other business and now you are hurt and unsure what to do next. Sound familiar? We have answers for you.

The actions you take immediately after a slip and fall injury can make the difference between recovering fair compensation and getting nothing. You don’t have to figure this all out yourself. Our Timonium, MD personal injury law attorneys are here to help you understand what to do right after slipping and falling so you can protect your rights.

Four Things to Do After You Slip and Fall at a Business

Report the Fall to Management Immediately

Tell store management or the property owner about your fall as soon as possible and ask them to create an official incident report. This report documents that the accident happened, which is very important for a future case. Get a copy of the report or at least write down the incident number and the manager's name.

If the business refuses to document your fall or claims no report is necessary, write down the names of the employees you spoke with and what they said. This creates your own record of reporting the incident.

Take Photos of Everything

Use your phone to photograph the hazard that caused your fall. Take multiple photos from different angles showing the spill, torn carpet, broken tile, or whatever caused you to fall. Photograph the surrounding area to show the lack of warning signs or poor lighting.

Take photos of your injuries, including any bruises, cuts, swelling, or torn clothing. These images document the immediate impact of your fall. Continue photographing your injuries as they develop over the following days.

Get Witness Contact Information

Other customers or employees who saw your fall can provide crucial testimony. Ask anyone who witnessed the accident for their contact information, including names and phone numbers. Write down what they say they saw while it is fresh in everyone's memory.

Witnesses can sometimes confirm the hazard existed and that you were not at fault. Their statements become especially valuable if the business later disputes your version of events.

Seek Medical Attention Right Away

Go to the emergency room, urgent care, or your doctor as soon as possible after falling. Some injuries like concussions, fractures, or internal injuries are not immediately obvious. A medical professional needs to evaluate you.

Medical records created shortly after your fall prove your injuries resulted from the accident. Waiting days or weeks to see a doctor gives insurance companies ammunition to argue your injuries were not serious or were caused by something else.

What Makes Businesses Liable for a Slip and Fall Injury Under Maryland Law?

Maryland common law and precedent-setting cases like Moulden v. Greenbelt Consumer Services, Inc. (1965) require businesses to maintain reasonably safe conditions for customers. Property owners have a duty of reasonable care under common law to keep their premises safe.  This means they must inspect their premises regularly, fix hazards, and warn about dangers they cannot immediately fix.

To win your case, you must prove the business knew or should have known about the dangerous condition and that you were hurt because of the dangerous condition specifically. A spill that just happened might not create liability, but a spill that sat there for 30 minutes while employees walked past might show negligence.

Call a Towson, MD Personal Injury Attorney Today

Slip and fall injuries at businesses deserve compensation when they are caused by negligence. Whether we successfully negotiate a settlement with an insurance company or take your case to Maryland Courts, we are here to help.

Contact Posner & Cord, LLC at 410-252-0600 to discuss your case. Our Towson, MD personal injury lawyers have over 20 years of legal experience and a 4.9-star rating on Google. When you call, you will speak with a lawyer, not a paralegal. Se habla español.