Slipping and falling at a store can be more than just embarrassing. A same-level fall caused by negligent facility maintenance could potentially cause devastating injuries and life-altering functional limitations for the person who fell.
Frequently, people may not realize immediately how serious a slip-and-fall actually was. A person who fell may let their eagerness to move on with their day and avoid embarrassing attention guide their decisions. They may ultimately fail to take necessary steps that could protect them from long-term losses sustained because of the incident.
How can people respond in a manner that limits their financial and legal exposure?
1. Documenting dangerous conditions
These days, people tend to reach for their phones as soon as something happens. Doing so can be a very smart decision in a slip-and-fall scenario. Using a mobile phone to document unsafe property conditions, such as damaged flooring or spills left ignored, can help people show that negligence caused their fall. Workers and managers could theoretically address unsafe property conditions shortly after a slip-and-fall. Gathering personal documentation of what occurred can help a person prove that the store was unsafe.
2. Reporting the fall
People hurt in slip-and-fall incidents may intend to carry on with their day as normal. Before they head on to the next store on their list, they may first need to file a formal report with the manager on duty. Businesses generally maintain internal records of any incidents that could lead to liability for the company. Taking the time to report a slip-and-fall helps ensure that there is corroborating documentation at the business if the injured person needs compensation later.
3. Seeing a doctor for diagnosis
Slip-and-falls can cause a number of injuries. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by the blunt-force trauma of striking the floor or the wall during the fall could cause permanent changes to a person’s health and income. A fracture that could be painful and prevent a professional from working for weeks might not be immediately obvious. People involved in slip-and-fall incidents generally need a doctor to diagnose their injuries. Diagnosis helps verify that the incident caused the injury. Rapid diagnosis also helps the injured person pursue the best possible treatment. Even people without health insurance can potentially pay for the cost of diagnostic testing and necessary treatment after pursuing a premises liability lawsuit.
Holding businesses accountable for preventable slip-and-falls can help injured customers recoup their losses. Knowing how to respond if a slip-and-fall occurs can help people limit financial hardship caused by a preventable same-level fall.
