Three Steps to Take After Slipping and Falling in the Workplace
by Josh Biggs in Tips on 22nd April 2021Slip and fall accidents can be extremely damaging to an individual’s physical health. Injuries from a slip and fall can take months to heal, and some can even be life changing.
If you are seriously injured in the workplace, your employer should take the necessary steps to ensure your safety, as well as that of the rest of the staff. If you’re not sure what to do after slipping and falling in the workplace, here are three vital steps you should take.
Seek Medical Attention
The most important thing you should do after experiencing an injury in the workplace is going to get the medical attention that you need. If the fall has been very serious and you feel like you may have injured a sensitive area, such as your spinal cord or neck, call an ambulance to assist you.
If your fall has been less impactful and you’ve simply fractured a bone or sprained a limb, ask somebody to drive you to the emergency room. Depending on the extent of your injury and the circumstances it happened under, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
Getting advice after a fall is the best way to know for certain. Serious injuries can be costly to treat, and if you fell, as a result of somebody else’s negligence, you may be entitled to some sort of monetary compensation.
File a Report
The second most vital step is to file a report at work. Your place of work should have a filing system to record incidents such as slip and fall injuries. Ask your manager or boss whether you can file a report in writing.
This is important as it will help clear up what exactly happened to cause the accident, so make sure to file a report as quickly as you can. If your case does end up in a court of law, you will have proof of the incident.
Collect Evidence
Apart from collecting evidence like the incident report and medical documentation, you should also focus on gathering photographic evidence. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and being able to illustrate how the accident happened will significantly bolster your chances of winning the case.
If your workplace has cameras in the building, try to get hold of the real-time footage.
Similarly, you can get a statement from any colleagues who witnessed the accident happen. You should also be weary of the evidence you give out unnoticeably. Refrain from posting about your life or the accident on social media, as this could be used against you at a later date.
Overall, the most important thing that you can do when you experience a nasty fall is to focus on regaining your health. This can be done with plenty of rest, a balanced diet, and low-stress levels. Make sure that you have a great support network around you because accidents can be extremely taking on both your mental and physical health.