Over the years, the number of work-related fatalities and injuries has decreased. This is mainly thanks to increasedhealth and safety measures in the workplace. A survey conducted in 2020 found that the number of workplace deaths had reduced from 38 a day in 1970 to 15 a day in 2019. However, this doesn’t mean we should sit back and relax. There is still much work to do to prevent accidentsfrom occurring altogether.
The most common accidents that occur in the workplace are slips, trips, and falls. To find out more about this type of accident and why it’s important to document the scene of a slip and fall accident, keep reading below:
Slip and Fall Accidents: What Are They?
Slip and fall accidents are accidents which occur when someone slips or falls down for any reason, suffering injuries as a result. Slip and fall accidents are the most common type of accident to take place in the workplace. However, it’s not just the workplace where these accidents occur. For example, a slip, trip, or fall accident can occur when walking along a street. A cracked paving slab or a slippery floor is enough to cause this type of accident.
Almost all slip and fall accidents can be prevented by being aware of your surroundings and following the correct safety requirement. As well as this, employers have a duty of care to keep the workplace environment as safe as possible for employees and visitors. Not doing so could leave them open to a lawsuit.
What You Should Do if You Are Involved in a Slip and Fall Accident
Whether you work in an environment where slips and falls are common or not, it’s essential to understand what to do if you are involved in a slip and fall accident. To help you out, we’ve made a list of some of the steps you should take after an accident occurs:
- Work out if you are hurt – this is the very first thing you should do. You can do this by checking to see if you have injuries or pain that weren’t there before the accident.
- Call for help – if you are hurt, do not try and get up off the floor. Instead, call for help.
- Take photos of the scene – if you are uninjured or able to move, it’s a good idea to take photos of the scene. If you are injured but don’t need urgent treatment, you could ask someone else to do this for you.
- Get medical help – if you are injured at work, there should be a first aider to help. However, even if a first aider treats you, visiting a professional doctor for a thorough check-up is crucial.
- Report the accident – no matter where it occurred, ensure you report it to the property’s manager, owner, or landlord. You must do this in writing.
- Document everything –it’s a good idea to collect the contact details of any witnesses. Their statements could help you if you decide to make a claim.
- Call an attorney – contact an attorney who deals with slip and fall accidents. They will be able to help you win your case and get you the compensation you deserve.
Why You Should Document the Scene of a Slip and Fall Accident
One of the best ways to prove who was at fault for a slip and fall accident is to document the scene of the accident. You can do this by taking photos or asking someone else to take photos of the scene. The more photos you have that show what happened before the fall, the more likely you are to win a slip and fall case.
Slip and fall accidents are common accidents in the workplace. However, these types of accidents don’t just take place at work. They can take place anywhere.Thanks to this, ensuring you know what to do if you’re involved in one is essential. As well as this, it’s also vital to ensure you know the importance of documenting the scene after the accident. To find out more, contact the lawyers at Kyle Pieter.
Visit our office at 814 S Church St., Suite 210, Murfreesboro, TN 37130.
Call now for a free consultation on (615) 806-6561.
