There are many ways for people to get hurt while visiting a business. In some cases, they might experience a crime in progress. Other times, the facilities themselves might be the most significant source of risk.
Slip-and-falls are among the most common scenarios in which people get hurt while visiting publicly accessible properties, including retail establishments. According to the National Floor Safety Institute, falls account for over 8 million hospital emergency room visits annually, representing the leading cause of visits. In workplace settings, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports that slips, trips, and falls constitute the majority of general industry accidents, with same-level falls making up the largest portion of these incidents.
If the person who slips and falls sustains significant injuries, they may have grounds for a premises liability lawsuit. People have to take the right steps to protect themselves if they think they may need to file an insurance claim or lawsuit after a slip-and-fall incident. The three steps below can help people preserve their right to hold a business accountable for unsafe facilities.
Document the cause of the slip-and-fall
Perhaps there was a spill in the middle of an aisle that led to a customer slipping. Maybe there was a power cord that tripped the visitor or a rumpled rug by the entrance that caused them to fall. Using a mobile phone to capture pictures of the property conditions that caused the slip-and-fall can be crucial. The photos or videos captured by the person who slips and falls can help them prove that negligent property maintenance was the underlying cause of their injuries.
Report the issue to management
Many people feel embarrassed after a slip-and-fall. They do not want to call attention to the situation. That natural aversion to attention can result in people leaving the scene of an incident without reporting it first. After a slip-and-fall incident, the person who fell typically needs to notify management. They need to ensure that the business puts together an incident report including relevant details about what happened. Those records help protect an individual’s rights to keep compensation in the future.
Seek medical evaluation
Proper diagnosis and treatments can help affirm that medical costs and lost wages are a direct result of unsafe property conditions. The sooner an injured person sees a doctor after a slip-and-fall, the easier it is to demonstrate the connection between the fall at the business and their diagnosis.
A successful premises liability lawsuit can cover medical expenses and lost wages, as well as any property damage expenses related to the incident. People who know how to handle a slip-and-fall when one occurs can take steps that protect their right to pursue compensation later.
