What to do if you have had a trip and fall accident
We all know that accidents happen. But what is surprising is that every year, around a million Americans end up in the emergency department because of an injury sustained during a fall. Of those, a significant number are as a result of someone tripping or slipping.
If you were to look for a slip and fall attorney who is based in Tampa or any other American city, you would find a fairly long list. The injuries sustained in these incidents can be very serious indeed.
Of the 3 million cases mentioned above around 800,000 people end up being admitted to the hospital for treatment. Worse, around 17,000 people end up dying, after a fall. So, if you are involved in that sort of accident it is important to take things seriously. To do the right thing. The tips below will help you with this.
Check for injury before slowly getting up
If it is safe to do so, just lay there for a moment. This gives you a few moments to assess how badly hurt you are. You need to check whether you have banged your head. If you have and you think you may have lapsed into unconsciousness it is particularly important that you share this fact with someone.
Call for help
It is usually wise to call for help. The person that comes to your aid can potentially act as a witness to what may have happened as well as help you to get up.
Seek medical help if you need it
They can call an ambulance too, if necessary. Or, provided your injuries are not too bad, you can arrange to see a doctor yourself.
Take some photos
If you feel able to do so, take some photos and maybe a short video of the scene. Or, maybe, ask someone else to do it for you. That way, if you later need to make a claim you will have some evidence that will help everyone to work out what happened.
Consider speaking to a lawyer
Should you believe a faulty product or a failure on someone else’s part has contributed to your fall, consider contacting a lawyer. Provided you speak to a specialist trip and fall attorney they will be able to quickly assess the situation and tell you if you have a case.
Take good care of yourself
After a trip and fall, you may not feel too bad. But don’t be fooled. The damage that is done by falling suddenly from a standing position is usually worse than you first think. The chances are that any bruising will be deep. So, you can expect it to hurt and for the affected area to be stiff. If possible, take things easy for a few days. Rest helps the body to heal faster.
How to avoid trip and fall accidentsTrip and fall accidents can be very serious, fatal even. Given this fact, it is very important that you do your very best to avoid them. Your employer should take the necessary action to keep your workplace safe and you need to do the same in your home by following the preventative measures outlined in this article.