Slip and fall accidents can cause serious injuries depending on the site of occurrence. You might break your bones, fracture your knees and ankles, or experience muscle sprains. Such accidents can also lead to head trauma or even cause brain damage. Treating injuries from slip and fall accidents is not cheap. You may stay out of work for weeks and this might have severe consequences on your income. Talking to a personal injury lawyer can help you file a claim for any medical expenses incurred and lost income.
Here are the steps on what to do after a slip and fall accident:
Identify the cause of the accident
The first step is to inspect the area where the accident occurred for evidence. Although accidents can occur anywhere unexpectedly, a slip and fall accident is usually caused by something like an uneven surface, a slippery floor, or a loose carpet. Therefore, identifying the cause of the accident can help your case.
You should also look out for any warning signs or posters indicating a slippery floor or uneven surface. If there are no warning posters, the owner of the premise may have a case to answer.
Take pictures of the accident scene
Photos and videos are nowadays admissible in court so long as they are verifiable and they have not been tampered with. With this in mind, you should take pictures or record videos of the accident scene using your phone or camera and focus more on irregularities such as spilled oil, water, or food.
Look for witnesses
Finding witnesses who are willing to testify in your case can be hard. However, there will always be one or two people who could be willing to help. Gathering witness details is important for a successful personal injury case. Ask eyewitnesses for their contact information and connect with them if you need their collaboration in court.
Report to the right people
After a slip and fall accident, you should inform the owner of the store and then contact the police. If the fall occurred at the workplace, you should inform your supervisor or immediate boss. Reporting to the right people is crucial to the success of your lawsuit. Make sure you do so in the presence of two independent witnesses.
Seek medical attention
Whether your injuries are serious or not, you should seek immediate medical attention. Some injuries might seem harmless at first only to harm you late. Then again, the doctor’s report will come in handy in explaining the extent of the injury and in aiding your claim for compensation.
Talk to a personal injury lawyer
After all is said and done, you should talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer. The attorney will look at your details and advise on the next course of action. Avoid talking to insurance companies as they may be cunning when it comes to dealing with your compensation.
Sometimes slip and fall accidents might be inevitable. However, if the accident occurs due to someone else’s negligence, then you have the right to file for compensation. Talking to a personal injury lawyer can help you know what you are eligible for in terms of lost income and medical expenses.
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