January 23, 2023

What Should You Do If You Fall on the Floor?

Slip-and-fall accidents are all too common, both at work and at home. An accident of this nature can be very upsetting because you may be in pain and slightly disoriented after the fall. Slip and fall accidents are one of the major causes of workers’ compensation claims, and these accidents don’t just lead to decreased productivity but also serious injury and even death.

Additionally, slip-and-fall victims may not feel seriously injured after the accident, as not all injuries manifest immediately after a fall. Therefore, proper precautions must be taken to avoid complications; depending on the severity of the fall, every moment and step after the accident is critical.

Step to Take During Fall Incident

The first thing you should do is stay calm and not be in a hurry to get up. Take time to assess the situation and follow the steps listed below:

Check For Fall Injuries

Sometimes injuries resulting from a fall might not be noticed immediately. Therefore, you must take a few minutes to inspect your body for pain or injuries and try to get up from the floor if you are not hurt. However, if you are injured and unable to get off the floor, call out for help.

Take Picture Evidence

If you can, document the scene of the accident, as this would be very valuable in a personal injury lawsuit in a slip and fall case. If the fall was a result of negligence on the part of the property owner, for example, slipping and falling resulted from a leaking fluid or wet floor in a grocery store without any visible warning signs.

How to Get Up from a Fall

If you are not careful while getting up after a fall, you could get hurt, as this isn’t something to be done hastily.

  • First, roll onto your side, then slowly pull yourself up with your hands and knees.
  • Crawl toward the nearest strong and stable object, hold it as a support, and try standing up slowly.
  • Once you have regained your balance, find a place to sit for a few minutes before doing anything else.
  • While sitting, cross-check your body once again for weak muscles and painful or swollen joints in your legs. If any is noticed, call for help.

Calling For Help

If you are hurt after a fall, attempting to get up or walk might worsen the injury. Therefore, you may need to call for help, especially if you cannot get up.

To get help, do the following:

  • If you are not alone during your fall, try shouting or calling to attract the attention of those around you.
  • Make use of a community alarm if you have one.
  • If you have your phone with you, call 911 and ask for an ambulance if you are injured.

Keep Your Body Moving

Laying or sitting in one position for too long can make your body stiff or sore, and this can worsen your injury, so you must keep your body moving as best as you can. Moving your body gently can help you focus, remain calm, and stay warm while you wait for help. However, if it hurts to move, then don’t.

Seeking Medical Help

It is always best to see a doctor after a fall to thoroughly examine yourself. You might not feel any different after a fall; however, a medical expert might discover injuries that may not be visible to you.

Fall accidents can result in a skull fracture, bleeding, and back and neck injuries, among other soft tissue injuries; therefore, it is best to see a medical professional after a slip and fall accident.

Document Your Medical Treatment 

A slip and fall claim can be very tricky to prove; therefore, every step taken to treat a fall injury should be documented. To succeed in a fall lawsuit, you will be required to provide evidence of your injuries, as the property owner’s defense will likely challenge your claim and version of what happened.

As a result, medical evidence helps prove the extent of the injuries caused by the fall accident, medical bills, and treatment received.

Hire an Expert Personal Injury Attorney

Property owners must ensure that their premises are safe for visitors and consumers. This means if they are aware of any hazard on their property and do not fix it or provide the appropriate warning, they can be held responsible for accidents caused by such dangers, including falls.

Proofing fault in slip and fall cases, which is a premises liability claim, can be pretty tricky; therefore, you must do your research as each case turns on whether the property owner acted carefully to prevent slipping or tripping and if the accident was a result of your own carelessness for failing to see and avoid the conditions that led to your fall.

So when you are confident that the fall was a result of the carelessness of the property owner, hire an experienced attorney. A lawyer can prove who was at fault for the accident and negotiate a fair settlement for you from either the negligent party or their insurance company.

Work with Your Attorney Throughout the Case

A fall-claims case has a better chance of success when the attorney and client work together. So, do not withhold any necessary information from your fall lawyer; the more information you provide your lawyer, the better your chances are to win your premises liability case.

Getting Legal Counsel for Slip and Fall Settlements in Media, Pennsylvania

If you are injured due to a slip and fall on someone else’s property, be it commercial property or government property, you should reach out to legal professionals to discuss your legal options. Michael Alan Siddons Law is available to assist you with any legal matter, including a personal injury case like a slip and fall.

We assess your case and determine if you are eligible to file a legal claim against the property owner, while also explaining how slip and fall liability works. Siddon Law is dedicated to helping victims of slip and fall negligence receive fair compensation and justice. So do not hesitate to reach out to us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Call a member of our team right away at 610-255-7500.