Slip-and-fall accidents are common in public places, including business premises. Such accidents can result in serious injuries, such as broken bones, head trauma and even paralysis. According to the CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), one out of five falls results in serious injuries. Furthermore, more than 800,000 patients are hospitalized yearly because of fall injuries.
In most cases, these accidents occur due to the negligence of business owners who fail to maintain safe premises. You may be entitled to compensation if you have suffered injuries due to a slip-and-fall accident caused by a business’s slippery floors or other hazards. In order to better safeguard the strength of your legal case, consider taking the following steps after sustaining harm.
Seek medical attention
You should seek medical attention immediately after a slip-and-fall accident, even if you don’t feel any pain or discomfort. Some injuries may not be immediately apparent, and it is essential to get a medical evaluation to safeguard your well-being.
Report the accident
Report the accident to the business owner or manager immediately. Request a written incident report, and make sure to get a copy for your records. The report should have all the details about the accident, including the date, time, location and any witnesses.
Document the scene
Take pictures of the hazardous condition that caused your injuries. If possible, take pictures of the surrounding area and any warning signs, or lack thereof. This evidence may be useful in proving negligence. Suppose the business owner failed to warn customers of a slippery floor, place warning signs or clean up spills. In that case, you may have grounds to pursue legal action.
Slip-and-fall accidents can result in serious injuries that can have long-term consequences. Therefore, you should consider taking legal action if you have suffered injuries due to a slip-and-fall accident that was reasonably preventable.