As kids, we’ve fallen dozens of times, broken arms and legs, had scars on our knees and elbows and often we would just get up and keep going like nothing ever happened. Once your parents gave us the green light, saying everything looks perfectly fine, that’s the only affirmation we really ever needed. As adults, falling is completely different. A simple slip and fall accident resulting in a broken leg, arm, or mild concussion of the head means you’ll have to go see a doctor, take some time off work, pay medical bills, cover lost wages, and learn how to take care of yourself.
As adults, the responsibilities and obligations we have simply carry with them consequences that often have lasting effects on our current lives. Understandably, we might feel confused, a bit insecure, and anxious about the whole situation. In the text below, we’ll dive into a simple guide of essential tips on how to deal with and manage yourself after the accident.
Ensure Safety and Seek Medical Attention
In most scenarios, after a fall, we get up and go about our day like nothing ever happened. Sure, we feel a bit of pain here and there, and we might also get a bit dizzy but it’s nothing too serious so why make a big deal out of it?! Well, as children, that might apply but as adults, gravity plus our increased size can make the injury more problematic and dangerous for your overall well-being than you might expect. The first thing we should do is see and check our bodies. Move your fingers, toes, arms, and legs. Feel your body to see if there is any blood anywhere, or maybe if there are any lumps and serious bruises. If everything seems fine, you’ll have to call for help and seek medical attention immediately. In most cases, you’ll walk away from the doctor’s office without much trouble, but in some instances, you also might have a concussion or maybe you’ve broken a few ribs without you even knowing as your body is still in a state of shock and the adrenaline is pumping.
The second reason why you shouldn’t wait too long is because of whiplash injuries and also because of the medical report, as that is something you’ll need and can use later if you do decide to press charges or simply get money from your insurance company. You have a right to compensation, and why waste when you can, instead, take some time off and recover?
Report the Incident
If you have never encountered this situation before, you might not be aware of certain laws regarding these types of accidents. If the accident happened on someone’s property, or maybe in a public place such as a shopping mall, and there is evidence and proof of negligence, you can report the incident to the property owner and ask for legal compensation because of the physical and emotional trauma you had to survive. If you’re asking how that can be the case, the answer is simple! The person responsible for taking all the needed precautionary measures simply acted differently, causing an unsafe environment where you passed through and fell.
Let’s take, for example, the shopping mall scenario. The floor was wet while you were going with both hands full of bags and nobody put a warning sign anywhere to let you know about the slippery conditions of the floor. The result is you falling and injuring your ankle, leg, or arm, and that means you’ll have to take time off work and pay medical expenses. A classic example of someone’s negligence resulting in your injury. What’s next, then?
Contacting Your Lawyer
In the scenario we described above, the next logical step is to contact your lawyer and ask for legal help. The accident is a job for abogado de resbalon y caida and the reason is simple, these people have the expertise and knowledge to help you get the deserved assistance in asking for your rightful compensation and they’ll help you navigate the complex legal system, often requiring some prior knowledge and experience. You, who might’ve never encountered such an accident before, are completely unaware of all the paperwork and how to file a complaint, whether it’s with the property owner or your insurance company. Your lawyer will do anything in their power to make you the best possible deal.
Document the Scene and Gather Evidence
Although you’ll be in a state of shock, it’s important to keep your cool long enough to take the necessary evidence of the scene, like pictures, and document eyewitness reports from those who might have seen what happened. There is also surveillance and the footage can be quite useful in court to prove negligence and strengthen your case. Gathering evidence and keeping the scene as it is for as long as you can before the police or ambulance arrive can make all the difference in the world. We know it’s a lot to think about while maybe in pain or shock yet these are necessary steps and they’re certainly worthwhile.
Don’t Talk to Anyone
Before you get ahead of yourself and start complaining about your injury to nearby passersby, keep in mind that everything you say can and will be used against you as well. The reason you should avoid communicating about your injury and accident with anyone besides your lawyer is simply because these words are treated as statements, even if said in a state of shock and pain. As long as you’ve been conscious, the law sees you as a responsible person who is completely aware of his surroundings. Don’t talk to anyone about it, simply call an ambulance or maybe your manager if you happen to fall on your workplace while working and explain what happened. Don’t go into too much detail. If you fall and you’re hurt, seek medical attention. Talk to your lawyer and wait for the rest of the process to unfold.
Keep Your Clothes Safe
Keep the clothes you had on you at the moment of the accident, as they’re invaluable evidence to help you strengthen your case. Any marks on the clothes can prove the severity of the fall; if you were in your working uniform, it proves the time and place of the accident and the fact that it happened during your shift. It’s something they might ask for in court and something with which you can prove your words and ask for the compensation you deserve. Keep them safe and don’t wash them, simply treat them as evidence, as that’s what they are.
It’s hard to cope with the accident and you’ll have to take all the necessary measures to at least insure the compensation you deserve. If it happened while you were working, you can ask for lost wages, take time off, and ask for full coverage of medical expenses and costs. Similarly, you can ask for the same things to a certain degree if it happened in a public place or someone’s property. Good luck!
