What to Do If You’re Injured in a Slip, Trip or Fall Accident

Slips, trips and falls can occur virtually anywhere, at any time. This is, perhaps, why they’re so common. Whether you’re out shopping, walking along the sidewalk, or at work, it only takes seconds to sustain a slip and fall injury.

While some slip, trip and fall accidents may only cause temporary embarrassment, a significant number of people sustain serious injuries due to these types of incidents. It’s not uncommon for someone to sustain a traumatic brain injury if they hit their head while failing, for example.

To ensure you’re prepared for any eventuality, it’s important to know what to do when a slip, trip or fall accident occurs. With these top tips, you can make sure you know how to handle an accident and how to access the help you need:

1. Get Medical Assistance

After a slip, trip or fall accident, it’s important to access medical advice. Sometimes, the shock of the incident will mask pain, so you might not realize how badly you’ve been hurt. By getting medical assistance, you can ensure your injuries are properly diagnosed or documented.

If you’ve been seriously hurt, you may require medical assistance at the scene of the incident. If so, you may need to call 911 in order to request help from emergency services. With life-saving treatment available, EMTs and paramedics can provide medical help at the scene and transport you to the nearest hospital, if necessary.

2. Seek Legal Advice

After a slip and fall, it’s often advisable to seek legal advice. When you’ve been hurt due to this type of accident, it’s often possible to make a claim for compensation. If you’ve been hurt at work, for example, your employer may have been negligent in not providing a safe working environment. Alternatively, if you’ve been injured in a public space, the local council or the state may be held liable.

If you’re not sure who owns the land on which the incident occurred, there’s no need to worry. Your personal injury attorneys will be able to access this information and assist you in making a claim.

3. Document Your Injuries

When you receive medical care, healthcare professionals will update your medical records to reflect what injuries you’ve sustained and what treatment you’ve received. However, you can document your own injuries by taking photographs or video too.

If you want to obtain compensation for the harm you’ve experienced, you’ll need to have evidence to support your claim. Documenting your injuries soon after they’ve happened will stand you in good stead if you choose to make a claim at a later date.

Recovering from a Slip, Trip or Fall

As you can suffer a range of injuries from a slip, trip or fall, it can take quite some time to recover. Depending on how badly you’ve been hurt, you may need surgery or physical rehabilitation, for example. During this time, be sure to keep a record of any expenses you’ve incurred due to your injuries, as they may form part of your claim. Additionally, you should feel able to take as much time as you need to recover so that you can process what’s happened and focus on your physical health and emotional well-being.