6 Things To Do After A Slip And Fall
Posted on: 2 October 2015
If you've just experienced a slip and fall accident, you're not alone. More than 540,000 slip and falls requiring hospital treatment occur in the United States each year. A slip and fall accident can be quite scary and painful. While you may be in physical pain and feeling panicked, it's important to keep a cool head after a slip and fall accident. Here are six things you need to do right away:
Seek Medical Help
It's important to get medical attention right away. It's often hard to ascertain exactly what your injuries are and their severity without a professional exam. For example, a fractured ankle requiring a cast or even surgery might be mistaken for a sprain at first, unless you go in for x-rays.
In addition to being the sensible thing for your health, getting medical treatment will provide you with documentation of your injuries, which is important for everything from getting time off of work to evidence in a potential slip and fall accident lawsuit.
Determine the Cause of the Accident
Did you slip in a puddle or on a recently mopped floor? Did you trip over a cord or loose rug? Did your foot get wedged into a gap between a door and a step? Take a few moments and try to determine the cause of your accident, and write down what you observe. Your slip and fall attorney will need this information to help determine if you have a good case and which direction to take the case if you do.
Identify Any Witnesses
If your fall happened in front of people, it's very important to get their information. Your insurance company and attorney may need to contact them to corroborate your story. Be sure to get their full names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses if at all possible.
Notify the Appropriate People
It's a good idea to let the appropriate people know about your accident as soon as possible after it occurs. For example, if you slip and fall at work, you will want to notify your supervisor as well as your HR representative, in order to document the fall and also to facilitate any time off that you need. If you slip and fall at a store or other public place, it's a good idea to notify a manager. If you are in too much pain or otherwise incapacitated, have a friend or family member call and notify the appropriate people on your behalf.
Take Photos
Photos are often critical for insurance claims and especially for slip and fall lawsuits. You will want clear, accurate photos of the scene of your accident taken as quickly as possible after it occurs. If you know what caused the accident, be sure to get photos of the cause, as well as wider shots to show the physical context. Photos of your injuries should be taken right away as well, with updated photos taken during the stages of recovery or treatment.
Call a Personal Injury Attorney
If you believe someone else may be liable for your fall, it is worthwhile to contact a slip and fall attorney. They will be able to help determine if a person or company is responsible for your fall, and if so, they will represent you and work hard to award you damages. This is very important, since medical bills and missed work can quickly add up to a huge financial burden after an injury.
By taking care of these tasks right after your slip and fall accident, you will be able to take control of the situation and minimize your own distress. To learn more about working with an experienced lawyer to handle your case, you can check out this link.
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