Many people feel embarrassed when they slip and fall in a public location. They blame themselves for the incident and worry that others might judge them for being clumsy.
Slip-and-falls are relatively common, and many of them only produce minor injuries. However, some people who fall sustain much more serious injuries than they initially expect. Anyone who falls at a business may need to take the three steps below to more effectively protect themselves from medical and financial repercussions.
1. Document what caused the slip
A slip-and-fall is frequently the result of insufficient property maintenance. Owners don’t maintain the premises appropriately or engage in understaffing, meaning that there aren’t enough employees at a business to keep the facility clean. Pictures of damaged flooring or ignored spills that caused a fall can help preserve proof of negligent facility maintenance that could disappear within minutes after the fall occurs.
2. Report the incident
Even with pictures on a mobile device, those hurt in a slip and fall need corroborating evidence. Generally speaking, it is important to notify the manager on duty at the business about the slip and fall before leaving the premises. Doing so helps ensure that there is an official paper trail validating that the incident occurred.
3. See a doctor
People who fall could break a bone. They may not notice immediately because the bone remains aligned. They could also hit their heads and sustain traumatic brain injuries. It could be days before they have any symptoms. If a fall was painful or if a person lost consciousness, seeing a doctor is often necessary to diagnose or rule out serious injuries.
Taking the right steps after a slip-and-fall can help people protect themselves legally and financially. If a business was negligent, then an injured person may potentially have grounds for a premises liability lawsuit.