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Winter slip-and-fall accidents happen fast, on icy sidewalks, snowy parking lots, or poorly maintained entrances. What many people don’t realize is that what you do in the first 24 hours after a fall can make or break your injury claim.

Even if you think you’re okay, winter falls often lead to delayed injuries and complicated legal questions around liability. Understanding the right steps early can protect both your health and your legal rights.

What to Do Immediately After a Slip & Fall Injury

The moments right after a fall are critical. Shock and adrenaline can mask pain, but the actions you take, or don’t take, can significantly impact your case.

Take these steps as soon as possible:

• Move to a safe area if you can do so without worsening your injuries
• Report the incident to the property owner, manager, or business immediately
• Document the scene by taking photos or videos of snow, ice, lighting, and warning signs
• Get witness information from anyone who saw the fall or the conditions

These steps help establish whether property owner responsibilities were ignored and preserve evidence that may disappear quickly once snow melts or is cleared.

When to Call for Medical Help (Even If You Feel “Fine”)

One of the most common and costly mistakes people make is assuming they aren’t injured because they don’t feel pain right away.

Winter slip and fall injuries often involve:

• Concussions or head injuries
• Soft tissue injuries (sprains, strains, torn ligaments)
• Back or neck injuries that worsen over time

Seeing a doctor immediately creates a medical record that connects your injuries to the fall. This documentation is essential when navigating the slippery slopes of slip and fall accidents, where insurance companies often argue that injuries were unrelated or pre-existing.

Why Timing Can Make or Break Your Injury Claim

Timing matters in every slip-and-fall case, especially in winter conditions.

Here’s why acting quickly is so important:

• Hazards change fast — snow gets shoveled, ice melts, and evidence disappears
• Delayed treatment raises red flags for insurers trying to deny claims
• Early documentation strengthens liability arguments

Waiting too long can weaken your ability to prove negligence—even when the fall was clearly preventable.

This is why consulting an attorney early, ideally before speaking with insurance adjusters, is critical. Your first meeting with your lawyer sets the foundation for your case, allowing your legal team to secure evidence and protect your claim from the start.

Understanding Liability After a Winter Fall

Not all winter falls automatically lead to liability, but many do.

Liability often depends on:

• Where the fall occurred (business, private property, public sidewalk)
• Whether snow or ice was addressed within a reasonable time
• If the condition was natural or made worse by human action

When property owners fail to meet their legal duties, they may be held responsible for injuries caused by unsafe winter conditions.

Why Choose Sherwood Law Group?

Winter slip-and-fall cases are fact-specific and highly time-sensitive. At Sherwood Law Group, we understand how quickly evidence disappears and how aggressively insurers push back on these claims.

From your first meeting with your lawyer to the resolution of your case, our team works to:

• Investigate hazardous conditions
• Preserve critical evidence
• Hold negligent property owners accountable
• Fight for the compensation you deserve

Contact Sherwood Law Group Today

If you slipped and fell this winter, don’t wait and hope it gets better. The first 24 hours matter more than you think.
📞 Call 312-627-1650
🌐 Visit www.sherwoodlawgroup.com
💼 Schedule your free consultation today
Sherwood Law Group — Protecting Your Rights When Winter Conditions Fail You.