What to do after a slip & fall accident

A slip and fall accident occurs when a patron of a store or some other public establishment slips or trips and falls on some type of hazard on the floor or ground. It can be caused by raised concrete, a turned up rug, a magazine on the floor, water on the floor or any other obstruction in someone's path.

When you or someone else falls or trips under these circumstances, the first and most important thing you should do is REPORT IT and ask that an incident report be completed. Most stores, malls, shopping centers and other places of business, including government offices, have reporting procedures for safety-related incidents. Many even have a standard form that will be completed by a manager on duty and submitted to a corporate safety manager.

Reporting these incidents sets into motion important procedures that will/should secure and maintain evidence for any future claim you might seek to bring against that establishment. For example, video evidence (if there is any) should be reviewed by management or safety personnel and kept in anticipation of a future claim. On the other hand, if a report isn't filed, it's entirely possible that video evidence will be overwritten, as a matter of course, within a few days or weeks.

Finally, very often when people are seriously injured, they simply don't realize how severe it is at first. Sometimes, it takes a 2nd set of eyes to recognize that the injured person needs immediate medical attention. While giving a statement to store personnel, the well trained ones will, as a matter of course, ask if you require immediate medical attention. If serious injuries are obvious, they may even call an ambulance to the scene just to be safe. Then, if an immediate trip to the hospital is warranted, you or the injured party can make an informed decision after being checked-out by EMTs.

If you or someone you know has slipped, tripped, fallen and hurt yourself in a business or government office, it is important to remember that you have legal rights and should consult with an attorney as soon as possible.