Even if you’re overwhelmed, these actions can protect your claim and your family’s ability to get answers:
- Request the incident report and fall paperwork (including any fall risk updates and post-fall notes). Ask for copies for your records.
- Ask which staff were present and what devices were used (walker, gait belt, wheelchair transfer procedures, bed alarms, etc.).
- Confirm whether surveillance footage is preserved. If the facility has cameras near hallways or common areas, ask about retention and preservation.
- Document your own timeline: what you were told, what changed after the fall, and how quickly your loved one received medical attention.
- Get the medical record trail started. Request ER/urgent care notes, imaging reports, and discharge instructions.
Washington cases often turn on timing: what the facility knew before the fall, and what it did right after. Early documentation helps prevent “memory gaps” later.


