Slip-and-fall accidents can happen just about anywhere. Whether you tripped going down a dimly lit staircase or fell over a bucket the janitor left on the floor, you stand a good chance of experiencing a serious injury. After all, falls lead to about 8 million emergency room visits every year.
That makes it smart to understand what you should (and shouldn’t) be doing after a fall. To best protect your interests:
- Get medical help. Some serious injuries may not be immediately clear, especially when it comes to hairline fractures or damage to your spine. If you’re hurt, x-rays and a medical exam are in order.
- Report the incident. Whether you fell in the parking lot outside of the grocery store or in the middle of an aisle, make sure that you make a report as soon as possible.
- Keep your clothes and shoes. Preserving your clothes and shoes could be important, especially if the insurance company claims that your footwear was inappropriate and contributed to your fall or that your clothes could have caused you to trip. If you slipped on a spill, your clothes may also preserve evidence of what was there.
- Take notes. You should write down whatever you remember of the accident, take note of the treatment you’ve received, note the name of witnesses and anything else that you think could be important.
- Don’t take calls from the insurance company. You can bet that the insurance company will be calling you as quickly as possible. They’re hoping that you’ll politely say something that can be taken out of context later to dispute your claim.
An attorney who is familiar with slip-and-fall accident cases can protect your rights and help you proceed with a claim against the responsible party. Find out more today.