If you fell and hurt yourself, chances are that it took you a while to get over that flustered and frazzled experience, but maintaining composure is essential when it comes to later litigation. Your observations and memories of the immediate area, nearby witnesses, help that was offered, and other contextual details can be very helpful in regard to later possible litigation.
After all, 22% of slip/fall incidents resulted in more than 31 days away from work, and they can be indicative of negligence or other irresponsible behaviors on the part of your employer. In fact, 85% of worker’s compensation claims are attributed to employees slipping on slick floors. Usually, only four to five percent of the personal injury cases in the U.S. go to trial, but that doesn’t mean you won’t pursue the proper compensation for medical costs and the time you could not spend working. Check out these three essential steps to take after you have a slip and fall accident:
Inspect the Area
Right after you fall, take note of your surroundings. What caused your fall, whether or not anyone saw you fall, and other details are very important. After all, property conditions can be altered after you leave and before you get a slip and fall consultant on the scene. Pictures should be taken immediately, and in the age of our smart devices, getting pictures shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Make a Record
If you fell in a place of business, have the manager (it might be your manager), write up a report and include a list of names of witnesses you noticed at the site of the fall.
Contact a Slip and Fall Lawyer
The information that you have gathered will be extremely helpful to your legal representative once you have filed a claim, and they will be able to get you through the legal process in order to get you the compensation that you deserve.
If you’ve been hurt as the result of negligence, you need professional help. Accident attorneys, car accident lawyers, burn attorneys, wrongful death lawyers, and those at personal injury law firms, like slip and fall lawyers, are ready to help you fight for your case.