Important Steps To Take After A Slip, Trip And Fall Accident
Posted on April 5, 2022 in Premises Liability
Dangers and hazards in any environment or setting should be dealt with as soon as possible. Unfortunately, this is not always the case on a commercial premise. A slip, trip, and fall accident can occur unexpectedly any second, and it is almost impossible to prevent it from happening, especially in an unfamiliar environment that you have no control over. As any customer would, you assume that the owner of the store or commercial establishment has the goodwill of maintaining the condition of the environment and preventing dangerous hazards from causing harm to their customers. This article shares some important steps you should take after experiencing a fall.
Check Your Injuries and Avoid Sudden Movements
After falling or tripping, the first thing you should do is check for any injuries you might have sustained. It would be best if you avoided sudden movements like getting back up on your feet immediately or walking away quickly out of embarrassment. This could aggravate an internal injury in your spine or back that you might not know about. Additionally, you should always check and feel for any sharp pain or tingling sensation you might feel. If so, do not move and stay where you are until the paramedics are onsite. Again, prioritizing your safety and well-being is critical to ensure that you do not have serious injuries.
Inform Someone about Your Fall
Next, ensure that the commercial property management team responsible for the premises has been informed about the fall. This could be an employer (if you’re at work), a manager, a supervisor, or a business owner. If someone is with you, have them report it to the authorities so that the fall is officially recorded. Doing this step is key as this will allow you to follow up with the case to decide whether to take legal action. Additionally, having the fall documented will enable you to have a stronger claim against the other party. You should also ensure that you have an accident report before you leave.
Document Your Surroundings and Gather Evidence
Collecting evidence is one of the most critical steps in making a damages claim. Therefore, before leaving the premises, you will want to make sure that you have gathered some evidence from the accident site. This evidence could include videos and photos you have taken with your phone camera, such as the hazard that caused you to trip, slip, or fall. For instance, wet pools of water exposed wiring and cords, broken railings, or handles. If possible, you will also want to take photos of your injuries.
More importantly, you should also provide a personal recount of the incident and include important facts such as location/address, time, location, staff, and passersby who you spoke to. If possible, get the eyewitnesses’ names at the scene and video surveillance footage to better substantiate and support your case.
Seek Medical Attention
The most important step you should take is seeking medical attention immediately. This way, you can accurately diagnose the injuries you have sustained and receive the medical treatment you need to recover. Additionally, you will utilize the medical treatment bills as evidence of economic damages. This proves to the property’s insurer that you have taken the necessary action to treat your injuries and reduce the severity of the losses by consulting with a doctor. Medical documents and records such as a doctor’s diagnosis, x-rays, physical therapy assessments, CT brain imaging can strengthen your case.
Contact Our Lawyers at Pazer, Epstein, Jaffe & Fein, PC
At Pazer, Epstein, Jaffe & Fein, P.C., we specialize in premise liability cases and can help you if you were injured or fell on a commercial or business property. Our attorneys are confident in their ability to help you and can offer you a case evaluation for each specific situation risk-free. If you suspect that you have been a victim of the property owner’s negligence, we can help you assess if you have a viable case for compensation.
Looking for a trusted personal injury lawyer in New York? Call our New York number: (212) 847-5007 or Long Island number: (718) 954-9986 to schedule a free consultation with us today.