Address safety and medical needs
Move away from an immediate hazard when it is safe to do so, use emergency services when appropriate, and describe symptoms accurately to medical professionals. Do not delay urgent care to gather evidence.
Identify the exact place and people
Record the address, facility, route, room, aisle, vehicle, or path segment. Collect names and contact details without arguing about fault or asking anyone to change a statement.
Preserve originals and report references
Keep original photographs, video, receipts, trip records, product packaging, damaged items, and correspondence. Save the report number and the organization that received the report.
Protect the calendar
Write down the incident and treatment dates. Ask promptly whether a lawsuit deadline, public-entity notice, benefit deadline, or contract term requires action; an insurance file does not necessarily preserve legal rights.