A visit to a fast food restaurant for a quick lunch or dinner should be enjoyable, but when the premises is not properly maintained it can be a safety hazard for customers. Slip and fall accidents are very common in places such as fast food restaurants, grocery stores, and convenience stores. If you're involved in a slip and fall accident at a fast food restaurant, it is important to react promptly and take the following steps:

Photograph the Area

Since most people own cell phones with cameras, photographing the area where the accident occurred should be easy. It is best to take wide shots of the area, as well as close ups of what could have caused you to fall. These may include a wet floor that does not have proper signage to warn customers, food or drink that was spilled and not cleaned up properly, or flooring material that needs to be repaired or replaced.

Contact Witness Information

If there were any witnesses to your fall, it is important to collect their contact information. Depending on what type of settlement is offered or whether or not your case ends up in court, you may need the witnesses to provide their account of what happened at the time of your accident.

Make Sure an Incident Report is Filled Out

Never leave a fast food restaurant after a slip and fall accident without getting an incident report filled out. This can be done by asking for the supervisor or manager on duty. He or she should document the time, date, and details of your accident on an official form that will be sent to the company's insurance company. Do not forget to ask for your own copy to keep for your records.

Seek Medical Attention

A fall in a fast food restaurant may seem minor initially, but that doesn't mean that you may not have head, back, or internal injuries that may not be immediately apparent. After leaving the fast food restaurant, make an appointment with your primary care physician or go to an urgent care clinic. In addition to being important for your health, seeking medical care immediately will also ensure that your injuries from your fall are documented.

Hire a Lawyer

It is in your best interest to hire a lawyer who specializes in slip and fall accidents to represent you. A lawyer will know how to gather pertinent evidence, create a case, and negotiate with the insurance company. In the event that a settlement is not reached and your case goes to trial, your lawyer can represent you in court. 

For more information, you will want to contact a company such as Bennett & Sharp PLLC.