It’s common to not take slip-and-fall incidents at work seriously and brush them off with a laugh or self-effacing comment. You might act like it’s not a big deal, but the consequences can be severe. The day after the accident, you might find that you’re in so much pain that you can hardly move.
Slips and falls can cause excruciating injuries and expensive medical bills. These kinds of mishaps can occur without warning. According to the CDC, one out of every five falls results in significant injuries such as fractured bones or brain injury. What’s more, The National Safety Council reports that falls were the cause of 44,686 deaths in 2021 at home and work, making it the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths.
Proving your slip and fall claim
Property owners and workplaces are responsible for maintaining safe and secure premises. If a property owner fails to fulfill this responsibility and someone gets injured, they are liable for damages. This is known as premises liability. To pursue damages for a slip-and-fall accident, you must prove that the property owner or occupant was negligent.
To put it simply, you may have a slip-and-fall case if:
- A property owner was aware of a risk but did not take appropriate action to address it.
- Their carelessness was the cause of your accident.
- The accident caused you to sustain injuries, and you now have medical expenses related to both the accident and your injuries.
If you’ve suffered serious injuries due to a slip-and-fall accident, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Your injuries may seem minor at first, but they could worsen over time. Medical records from your doctor can be used as evidence to support your claim. When you are ready to file a claim, seek assistance with the process.