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. http://jobsafety.seton.ca/10-tips-to-prevent-workplace-slips-trips-and-falls/

ii. http://jobsafety.seton.ca/10-tips-to-prevent-workplace-slips-trips-and-falls/