What Should I Do Following a Slip and Fall Accident? Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common causes of injuries each year. 60,000 Canadians are hurt in a fall at work every year, accounting for 15% of all "time-loss injuries" as recorded by workers comp.i Furthermore, many of these injuries were completely preventable. At least 40% of all work injuries occur in part because appropriate fall prevention measures were not in place where they should have been.ii Trips and falls can cause serious injuries, both immediate and long-term. If you suffer a fall either at work or at a place of business, it is important to follow certain steps to protect yourself and make sure that you are properly compensated if the other party is at fault. 1. Take photos of the scene – One of the most important things that you can do after suffering a fall, whether at work or while patronizing a business, is to obtain photographic evidence establishing that the scene was unsafe. If you're unable to do it yourself, have a coworker, friend, family member, or someone else at the scene take pictures of the site of the accident, especially if there is an obvious safety hazard that may have contributed to the accident. Because almost everyone has a camera on their phone these days, this shouldn't be hard to do. If you have someone else take the photos, have them take them with your phone, if possible. That way you will be sure to have the evidence when you need it, and will be able to establish the groundwork for your future injury claim. 2. Get witness statements – In addition to photos of the scene, one of the most important kinds of evidence in an injury case are witness statements. If other people witnessed the accident, make sure get their contact information so that they can make a statement at a later time. There may also be witnesses who can make a statement about the condition of the scene, even if they didn't see the actual fall. These kinds of statements are also important, as they help establish the state of the accident scene before the actual incident occurred. Businesses will often collect their own witness statements when an employee or customer is hurt on site, but you will want to have your own statements to present as evidence if the claim needs to be fought in court. 3. File an accident report – When you have a fall, it's important to file an accident report recording that the incident happened. Filling out an accident report as soon as possible establishes that the incident occurred, and gives you a chance to record any symptoms and injuries that are immediately apparent from the accident. 4. Keep any important evidence – If an item or object caused your fall and it is possible to collect it, keeping the item as evidence can be important to your claim. You should also keep the shoes you were wearing during the accident, so that you can show what state they were in when the fall occurred. 5. Retain a lawyer – By hiring a personal injury law firm, you will make sure that you and your interests are properly represented after a fall. Without a lawyer, you will likely have to settle for what the other party's insurance company is willing to initially cover, which may not cover all of your expenses. The injury lawyers of Edson Legal can help you fight for full compensation for your injuries, as well as any pain and suffering and other expenses that your accident may have incurred.
Company Bio Edson Legal has been fighting for injured Canadians' rights since 1982. Whether you've been in a car accident, suffered a work injury, or been harmed in some other way, Edson Legal will represent you in your fight to be compensated for the harm you've been caused. Contact Edson Legal today at www.edsonlegal.com
Sources i. ii.
http://jobsafety.seton.ca/10-tips-to-prevent-workplace-slips-trips-and-falls/ http://jobsafety.seton.ca/10-tips-to-prevent-workplace-slips-trips-and-falls/