In the hours after a resident falls, two tracks matter at the same time: medical care and documentation.
- Get medical evaluation promptly (especially after head trauma, dizziness, or fractures). Even if symptoms seem minor at first, internal injury risks can worsen.
- Request the incident information the facility maintains—without relying on verbal explanations. Ask for the fall report and any related nursing documentation.
- Write down a timeline from your perspective: where your loved one was, what they were doing, who staff said was involved, when you learned about the fall, and what symptoms appeared.
- Be cautious with statements to the facility or insurer. Early conversations can get summarized in ways you didn’t intend. A lawyer can help you understand what not to say and how to keep facts accurate.
These early steps can be critical in Michigan because evidence for fall cases is often controlled by the facility—meaning what exists (or doesn’t) soon after the incident can strongly influence the outcome.


