Most people will suffer a slip, trip, or fall accident at some point in their lives and most likely, it won’t be their fault. Slips, trips, and falls can happen anywhere and to anybody. It is important to know the proper steps to take following a slip and fall accident.
1. Seek Medical Attention
The number one priority following a slip, trip, and fall accident is ensuring your or your loved one’s safety, and treating any possible injuries. It is important to get checked by a doctor immediately so any harm can be properly documented. If your accident leads to a lawsuit, any information you have concerning how the incident occurred and the injuries sustained will be valuable pieces of evidence to help you obtain compensation.
2. Report the Accident.
No matter where the slip, trip, or fall accident happened, make sure to report it to a manager, owner, or landlord. Be sure to get a detailed written report on the accident and request a copy before you leave. Pictures of where the accident happened can be useful later in court if you decide to seek compensation for your injuries in a premises liability lawsuit.
3. Document Everything.
After the accident, it is important to collect the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of all witnesses at the scene. It may be hard to get all this information later. The statements provided by all witnesses could help you prove your claim if you decide to pursue a lawsuit. Further, taking day-to-day pictures of any injuries you may have sustained from the accident is critical to show their progression over time.
4. Decline to Give Statements.
Less is more. Try to limit your communication with the property owner or manager of the location where your accident occurred. Do not post any details of your accident on social media. If an insurance company wants a statement from you, refuse until you have spoken with an attorney.
5. Contact an Attorney.
If you decide to take legal action, contact an experienced attorney. Often times a slip, trip, or fall case is complex and difficult to prove your claim, a law firm will have many resources at its fingertips to help you win. Hilliard Law has a proven track record and experienced attorneys that will help you with your case.
Slip and Falls Statistics
- Emergency Room Visits. According to the National Floor Safety Institution, over 1 million individuals in the U.S. seek emergency room visits after a slip and fall accident. Roughly two-thousand people are injured each day.
- Older Adults. Each year one in every three persons over the age of 65 will experience a fall in the United States. Half of them are repeat fallers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1.8 million people over the age of 65 were treated in the emergency room after a fall.
- Total Cost of Injuries. The total cost of injuries due to falls is estimated to be $13-14 million per year in the United States. Falls are the number one cause of accidental injury resulting in 20.8 percent of all emergency room visits in 1995. (Motor vehicle accidents accounted for 11.9 percent of ER visits.)
For more information, or if you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident, please contact Hilliard Law’s compassionate and dedicated team of attorneys, at (361) 882-1612, or through our contact page HERE to request a free case evaluation.
Sources:
https://nfsi.org/nfsi-research/quick-facts/
https://www.edgarsnyder.com/slip-and-fall-accidents/after-an-accident.html