What you do right away can determine what can be proven later—especially when a facility later states the fall was unavoidable.
- Get medical care immediately and follow discharge instructions. If there’s a head injury, hip fracture concern, or worsening symptoms, ask for written documentation.
- Request the incident paperwork: the fall/incident report, shift notes, and any “post-fall” assessments.
- Ask for the care plan and fall risk updates that were in place around the time of the fall (and whether they were revised after).
- Preserve evidence: if there’s any chance of surveillance, alarms, or device logs, ask the facility to preserve footage and records.
- Write down details while they’re fresh—where the resident was, what they were doing, lighting conditions, whether assistance was available, and what staff said happened.
If you’re unsure what documents to request, that’s normal. Our Russellville team can help you identify what matters most for a fall injury claim.


