There are many reasons that a visitor at a business might sustain a slip-and-fall injury. In some cases, spills caused by other patrons are what lead to people falling. Other times, dirt or precipitation brought in by other visitors could lead to a slip-and-fall incident.
Some slip-and-falls are actually trip-and-falls caused by power cords, wrinkled rugs or other hazards left in store pathways. Often, better maintenance or staffing policies could prevent these issues from injuring customers.
People typically don’t expect to experience a slip-and-fall when they visit a store, which means that they may have a hard time responding appropriately. The three steps below are important for the protection of those involved in a slip-and-fall incident at a business.
1. Document obvious safety hazards
The legal basis of a slip-and-fall lawsuit typically relates to negligence. The injured party must prove that the business failed to do what was necessary to ensure the safety of visitors. Using a mobile phone to take pictures or record video footage of spills and other obvious hazards can preserve evidence of company negligence.
2. File an incident report
Businesses usually have documents they can fill out to report an incident resulting in injury. Communicating with the manager on duty or the business owner helps ensure that there are internal records corroborating an individual’s claim that they fell on a specific day at the company’s premises. Filing a report makes it easier for the injured person to prove what happened later.
3. Seek professional medical evaluation
There are a variety of serious injuries that people can sustain in a slip and fall incident. The injured person could break a bone. They might suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that could cause lifelong symptoms.
People may struggle to objectively analyze their symptoms after getting hurt. In some cases, they may have delayed symptom onset that can complicate the process of pursuing compensation. Seeing a doctor makes it easier to promptly diagnose injuries caused by a slip-and-fall. Medical records can also help connect lost wages and medical expenses to a slip-and-fall incident.
In scenarios where people have slip-and-fall injuries, they may need help pursuing a premises liability claim. An attorney can help an injured shopper negotiate with an insurance provider or prepare to take their claim to civil court. Knowing how to handle a slip-and-fall incident can help make it easier for those injured by unsafe property conditions to hold the right party accountable.