Slip and falls can happen anywhere. Whether you were hurt in a store, on the sidewalk, or at someone else’s home, you may have the opportunity to recover damages for the significant physical injuries and financial harm caused by your slip and fall. Property owners have an obligation to make sure their properties are free from any sort of hazardous situation.
Slip and Fall Accident Overview
Slip and falls can happen inside or outside of a building and are generally caused by conditions such as an uneven foundation, inadequate lighting, potholes, ice, snow, or some other type of unknown hazard. Injuries can range from being a minor scrape that just gives you temporary pain, to a serious injury that changes your quality of life permanently. It’s important to have a skilled slip and fall lawyer that can handle the insurance adjuster and get the financial compensation you deserve.
A “simple” slip and fall may not sound serious, but its effects are often significant. Slip and falls are not just a problem for the elderly or for the careless. A slip and fall can affect anyone.
According to the National Safety Council, slip and falls are the leading cause of injuries in the United States. Approximately 8.9 million visits to the emergency department annually are the result of a slip and fall. Slip and falls are even the second-leading cause of unintentional death in homes and communities, resulting in more than 25,000 fatalities in 2009. The risk of a slip and fall increases with older clients and is a serious issue in homes and communities. It is important to remove any potential hazards in your area.
Fall Statistics
According to the CDC, unintentional slip and falls were the leading cause of nonfatal injuries in the United States during 2007. 8,035,635 people were hurt in unintentional slip and falls that year. That is approximately 3.5 million more people than were hurt by the second leading cause of nonfatal injuries, unintentional struck by or against accidents. Furthermore, unintentional slip and falls were the leading cause of injury in every age group except 15-24-year-olds, where they were the second leading cause of injury.
How Slip and Falls Affect You
It is difficult to imagine the impact that a slip and fall injury has had on each of the individuals hurt every year in the United States. However, if you are one of those victims, then you understand how your accident has impacted your life. You know that a “simple” slip and fall has caused you to incur significant medical bills and time lost from work. You know that you are paying for child care or household help that you didn’t need before your accident. You know that your slip and fall has cost you a lot of money and caused you a lot of pain. You should also know that you may be entitled to damages to help reimburse you for that pain and money.
What to Do After a Fall
After a slip and fall, you may feel you must flee the scene. Most people have this initial reaction, whether from embarrassment or guilt, but it’s important to fight the urge as much as possible. Fleeing the scene of the slip and fall can be looked at as unintentionally admitting guilt. It is best to not let any witnesses of the slip and fall leave before you have a chance of recording their information. Always stay at the scene of the slip and fall until everything is settled and you are confident you have all the information you need to benefit your personal injury case.
After experiencing the slip and fall, assess the situation you are in. Seek medical attention for your personal injury as soon as possible. Make sure you are not suffering from any threatening injuries. Once medical attention is sought, your slip and fall injuries should be officially documented, which is very important when you file your case.
After receiving medical attention for the slip and fall, gather evidence for your case. Get the contact information of any witnesses of the slip and fall before they leave the scene. Photograph the scene of the slip and fall and the condition the area is in. Take extensive notes. Report the slip and fall and the condition to the landowner or supervisor at the scene. Do not talk extensively about the slip and fall to the landowner until you have spoken to an experienced Philadelphia based slip and fall lawyer at The Heslin Law Firm.
Our Slip and Fall Attorneys Can Help You
Only an experienced slip and fall lawyer can help you receive a fair financial settlement after a slip and fall. Call our office for a free consultation regarding your injury. You can reach our office at 215-332-0300.