If you have an injury that is caused by a fall or a slip, you need to be aware of several things to ensure that you are compensated for the injury that you have incurred. If you look at tort law for personal injury, these are injuries that are simply set to make those who are responsible, pay for the injury that a victim receives.
The claims that are made about slip and fall injuries are a bit confusing because of the legal terms that are tough to comprehend. We are going to make the distinction between these injuries, how to respond in case you are injured, and how to handle claims so that you do not stick with debt you are not supposed to have. For example, you can seek the counsel of car accident lawyer Tampa on how to handle any car accident related injury.
Common causes for a slip or a fall
- Debris present on the floor
- Electrical wiring that is exposed
- Stairs that are uneven
- Poor lighting
- Pavement that is cracked
- A wet floor
- A floor that has holes
- No presence of handrails
- Fixtures that are poorly placed
- Carpet that is worn out
- Drinks or food that is spilled
- Floor tiles that are broken
Common injuries that happen after a slip and a fall
The National Safety Council states that accidents where a person trips or slips while strolling account for about 9 million emergency room cases in the hospital in a year. It is common to assume that the injuries result in only minor injuries like scrapping or bruising. But serious injuries can happen because of the mode at which the body of a human falls in a surprising or unexpected way, as a result of the accident. Essentially, what causes more injury is the abruptness of a fall or a slip, as the body has very little time to be aware of how it should respond to the fall.
Some of the common injuries include:
Scrapes, cuts, and bruises: Slips and falls are not that dangerous all the time. In most cases, cuts, scrapes, and bruises are what can be expected. It does not mean that they are not painful, but they will not lead to a disability or a major injury like the ones from a car accident, which case a car accident lawyer Tampa can help you to distinguish legally.
Fractures and sprains: an injury that is caused to the bones, ligaments and the muscles are common injuries caused by a fall or a slip. In most of the accidents of this nature, the body parts we have listed above are the ones that absorb the impact that the body receives. For instance, tripping and slipping can make someone twist an ankle or sprain a ligament. Some of the twists and sprains are as an effect of the body’s reaction to the injury. When you land on the ground, you might fall on your upper arm, forearm, pelvis, hip or even head which can translate to a serious injury.
Dislocation of the shoulder: when an individual falls or slips, it is common to land on the shoulders, or the impact can stretch from the arm and the hand to the shoulder. These can be minor injuries, like bruises and sprains, or it can be something serious like shoulder dislocation. These are common injuries that are very painful, but they can be treated.
Evidence collection
Accidents like falls and slips are not expected. Although there is not much that can be done to prevent an accident, there are things that can be done to ensure that the right compensation is paid. There are instances when the injury is not felt immediately, but after a few days or weeks, the injury begins to show. To protect yourself, you need to do the following in case of a slip or a fall:
Document with pictures: use a smartphone to record the injury, the surrounding environment, where the fall or slip happened, and the obstructions that might have caused the slip or fall to happen. You can also have someone else record the whole incident.
Get information from the witnesses: get the contact information of anyone who saw you fall, in case their evidence is needed. A witness is a very key person because they can help you get your claim.
Get a copy of an accident report: large stores and business premises are all required to have an accident report. Ensure you get a copy of the accident report.
Seek medical care: if you are injured, ensure that you visit a hospital to get the right medical care. If you take a lot of time to get medical attention after an incident has occurred, it can be hard to prove that a fall caused the injury. To be on the safe side, make a record of the symptoms you are experiencing and any injuries that you may have incurred.
Seek the counsel of an attorney: personal injury are not straightforward to deal with. Since insurance companies are in the business of making money, you need to hire a slip and fall attorney Tampa like Kinney Fernandez & Boire to ensure that you get compensated for your injury. A slip and fall attorney Tampa will help you by first understanding the case and then evaluate it.