Have you ever visited the emergency room because of a slip and fall at work? You are not alone. Every year, 1 million Americans have to visit the emergency room because of slip and fall accidents. While these accidents occur everywhere — at home, in the grocery store, and at work — you should know what to do if you suffer an injury in these accidents.
Below, we outline what steps to take if you’re involved in a slip and fall accident at work. If you want to learn more, contact a Birmingham workers’ compensation lawyer today.
WHAT TO DO AFTER A SLIP AND FALL ACCIDENT AT WORK?
According to the National Safety Council, slips and falls at work are one of the most common accidents. Unfortunately, they can also be quite dangerous for anyone who is involved. At best, you can get off with slight bruises and pain, but people also suffer fatalities. The severity of the injuries suffered is usually determined by how severe the fall is.
If you have had a slip and fall accident, you should know the proper steps to take. Knowing this will save you a world of trouble. These guidelines will also help you claim compensation for your accident if it ever occurs.
The following are the steps you should take after a slip and fall accident at work:
- SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION
Seeking medical attention after a slip and fall is a top priority. Even if you feel like the accident is something a few painkillers will probably take care of, you should get an informed medical opinion on that. A medical professional will identify the level of your injuries and the possible effect on you. As such, you should see one and follow their advice completely.
It is essential that you also document your visit to the doctor. Keep every document that shows that you visited the hospital after the accident. This includes records of doctor’s visits, medical observation, and bills paid. These will come in handy when you are claiming compensation for your slip and fall accident.
- REPORT THE ACCIDENT TO YOUR EMPLOYER
As soon as you can, you should report the slip and fall accident to your employer. If there are clear reporting lines at your place of work, you could also report to your manager. Make sure that you and your manager document this report for reference purposes. You should also ask your manager to write the report and send you a copy of it. This way, you could always go back to it in the case of any disputes about your claim.
- COLLECT EVIDENCE
To ensure that your manager takes your claim to the proper authorities, you should also document any evidence you can collect. This includes pictures of the accident scene or videos, if possible. Ensure that these photos have details relevant to the incident, such as ice, slippery surfaces, stairs, and other hazardous objects.
You should collect the names and contact details of witnesses of the accidents. You could even go further to ask them to write statements about what happened and sign them. This way, even if your manager does not forward your report to the appropriate quarters, you can always have evidence backing you up.
- DO NOT ACCEPT BLAME
Unfortunately, your employers or their insurance carriers might try to apportion blame to you if you slip and fall at work. As such, you must ensure that you do not make any statements that accept or attribute blame to anyone. In your interest, you should not even discuss the incident with anyone apart from your doctor. In addition, you should ensure that you get legal advice before you provide any statement to your organization’s insurance company.
- CONTACT A WORKERS’ COMPENSATION ATTORNEY
As soon as you can, you should contact a Birmingham workers’ compensation attorney to guide you on what to do. Many organizations and their insurance companies will try to save themselves as much money as they can by trying to downplay your claim. With an experienced lawyer by your side, that will not be a problem for you.
CONTACT OUR ATTORNEYS TODAY!
If you or your loved ones have suffered a slip and fall at work, we are willing to help you get through it. At Mike Bell Injury Law, we will dedicate our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys and other resources to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. Ready to get started on the work comp process? Schedule a free initial consultation with us today to speak with one of our attorneys.
