Slipping or falling because someone else wasn’t paying attention is not cause for stress, however, if someone slips or falls because of the negligence or carelessness of another entity, then they can file for compensation for any losses or injury sustained. Whether you or a loved one was walking around and fell due to wet floors when there wasn’t a sign or due to objects left on the ground that should not have been there, it can be quite terrifying. This fall can also result in injuries that may affect your life, which is why it is important to know what steps to follow if you are ever in this situation.

Document injuries

After taking a fall, the first thing you should do is document the extent of your injury. If a loved one slips, you should also immediately check them for injuries and document how they are feeling. You should always remember that during these situations, adrenaline is rushing through the body which makes it easy to overlook injuries or bruising that may be felt later on, so it is best to check now rather than later.

Seek medical attention

If there is any chance that the person is injured, then you need to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Not only is this going to ensure that the person gets medical care as quickly as possible, but it also gives you the chance to have an official medical report detailing all the injuries sustained from the fall. This documentation is quite essential when filing a case for compensation because the first thing that the entity you are trying to get compensated from will say is that the fall did not cause any injuries, and thus they are not obligated to pay compensation. If you are a mother and one of your children took a fall due to the negligence of others, then you need to get them checked out for possible injuries that may not be apparent at first. This is crucial especially if your child hits their head when they slip since it could cause a concussion or internal bleeding.

Talk to witnesses

After making sure that the person who has fallen is physically okay, you should then figure out if there were witnesses who saw the event taking place. This will help you build a case against the responsible parties since witness testimonies act as evidence in pointing out who was at fault. Whether you will be able to get compensation or not is determined by how compelling the evidence you present is. Having someone supporting your claims will ensure that your bid for compensation goes smoothly, since having your word against the word of the entity responsible for the fall will elongate the process considerably.

Contact a lawyer

While you are busy trying to recover from injuries sustained due to your slip, or you are taking care of the loved one who slipped and fell, a compensation lawyer will be able to compile all the necessary documents and evidence needed to build an ironclad case against the responsible entity. When choosing who is going to be representing you for this case, you need to keep in mind that potential lawyers need to be from the area around you. For example, if the fall took place in Rhode Island, then it does not make sense to contact a lawyer based in New York. This is why if you’re searching online, looking for a slip and fall attorney in Rhode Island is going to yield better results than merely searching for a compensation lawyer and clicking the top result. Doing this ensures that the lawyers you have to choose from are familiar with the pertinent laws and regulations since they tend to differ from one state to the other.

Contact First Responders

If there is any kind of hazard that is preventing you from getting back up, or if the person who took the fall is unconscious, then you should contact first responders as soon as possible. Contacting the police not only ensures that authorities are notified and can provide assistance, but will also ensure that the incident is documented through an official police report. This is also necessary if the fall took place while you are traveling abroad, since it needs to be documented for insurance purposes. If you are in a foreign country, you need to know the numbers of first responders in case of such emergencies.

Following these five important steps after you or someone you know has slipped or fallen because of the carelessness of another is going to help you ground a compelling compensation claim. Unfortunately, not all slips can be brushed off, since sometimes they can lead to permanent issues that may affect a person’s life. It is crucial to know your rights and know exactly what you should do to at least get compensated for the medical bills and other expenses you may face due to the actions of others.

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