A “slip and fall” or “trip and fall” injury is one in which a person is hurt while on someone else’s property. If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall, you can seek compensation through the courts in what is called a premises liability action. These types of claims can apply to injuries suffered on property owned by businesses as well as private individuals. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of being injured in this way, there are a few things you should always do to protect your rights.
Do not worsen the injury.
First and most importantly, do not worsen your slip and fall injury by trying to move or walk away after you have fallen. If your pain or discomfort prevents you from moving, then stay put and call for help. If your injury occurs at a store or restaurant, under no circumstances should you try to continue shopping or dining after your fall.
If and when you are able, try to discover what exactly caused your slip and fall.
Unfortunately, simply slipping or tripping for an unknown reason will not provide a good basis for any injury claim against the property owner. If you are able, take a look around and inspect the area to discover what exactly caused your fall. If possible, take photographs of the spill or defect that caused you to fall. Also take photographs of any cuts or bruises as well as stains on your clothes from any substance that caused you to slip.
Report the fall.
Always insist on speaking to the property owner or an employee of the business to notify them of the issue that caused your fall. Doing so ensures they can clean up or fix the problem and prevent injuries to others on the property. Reporting the slip and fall injury also makes sure there is a record of your fall in case a personal injury claim needs to be made at a later date. Keep this conversation short and to the point. Tell the employee or owner where you fell, what caused the fall, and that you are injured. Do not say anything else and never agree to a recorded statement.
Get the medical treatment you need.
Do not hesitate to immediately go get checked out by a medical doctor after a slip and fall injury. If you followed step 3 above, the employee or property owner will likely ask if you need emergency medical treatment. If you have ANY question as to whether you need emergency care, err on the side of caution and say yes. Otherwise, safely make your way to a hospital or doctor’s office on your own.
Call The Eichholz Law Firm.
We are an experienced and passionate personal injury law firm. Our slip and fall attorneys will assist you in navigating the daunting and complicated process of bringing an injury claim against the property owner.