Falls account for about 21 percent of hospital emergency room visits. Although many slip-and-fall accidents are not fatal, many people who fall experience injuries such as fractures and strains. Hip fractures are the most serious type of injury. Older people are more likely to experience a hip fracture in a fall. Following a slip-and-fall accident, the first thing to do is to get medical treatment. Do you know what else you should do if you or a loved one slips and falls at a place of business?
Take these steps after an accident:
- Save your medical records and bills to show that you sustained injuries.
- Stay calm.
- Report the accident to the manager or owner. Ask the person to make a written report of the incident and have him or her make a copy of the report for your records. Just give the facts; do not place blame on anyone.
- Collect names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses.
- Take pictures of the exact location where you fell. Make notes about what you were doing, the weather and the exact time and date.
- It is a good idea to save the shoes and clothes you were wearing during the accident, as these might be evidence.
- Do not post details about your accident on social media.
- Do not talk to the insurance company until you are ready. It is a good idea to speak to an attorney before talking to a representative from the insurance or the business.
If you are considering legal action, you will want to talk to an experienced lawyer about your situation before proceeding. A slip-and-fall accident can be quite painful and damaging. The property owner should take care of your medical bills and lost wages if the fall occurred due to negligence. Proving negligence is not easy, and you will want to present a strong case.