Slip and fall and trip and fall accidents are one of the most common reasons for emergency room visits in the United States each year. And while these types of accidents sound similar, they result in very different injuries. When a slip, trip, and fall accident occurs because of the negligence of someone else, the victim may be entitled to seek significant compensation for their injuries.
Was It a Slip or a Trip and Fall Accident?
When something interferes with the friction between the surface and your foot, you may slip and fall. But when something interferes with the motion of your foot as it swings forward, you may trip and fall. And though you may influence the fall by swinging your arms trying to remain upright, typically, when you fall backward, you have slipped, and when you fall forwards, you have tripped.
This is important to understand because the injuries you sustain in a slip and fall accident are different than the injuries you may sustain in a slip and fall. For instance, if you slip on a wet floor, you will probably fall backward and may injure your head, shoulders, neck, back, hips, or elbows. But if you trip on a crack in the sidewalk, you will fall forward and may injure your hands, wrists, face, knees, forearms, and shins.
And though common causes of fall accidents are ice, grease, water, mud, and oil, other types of materials, such as gravel, wood, plant debris, plastic, and dust can be just as slippery. The surface itself may cause the accident. Something as simple as an unexpected raise or dip can cause a fall, as can uneven stairs, surface damage or debris, and surface transitions, such as from carpet to tile.
Fall Accidents on Someone Else’s Property and at Work
All property owners have a duty to ensure safety. If a hazard is present, guest and employees should be warned. Hazards should be corrected as soon as possible, and until they are fixed, they should be blocked off to prevent accidents.
If you fall and suffer a serious injury on someone else’s property, there are certain steps you need to take to protect your rights.
- Have your injuries examined by a physician as soon as possible, especially if you hit your head. Keep in mind that injury symptoms may not show up right away, so a medical examination should be sought out. Also, your medical record may be used as evidence in your case.
- Report the fall to the owner of the property. If you fall at a business, you may need to file a formal report. Be sure to get a copy of the report.
- Collect the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed your fall. They may need to be contacted to provide testimony.
- If at all possible, get pictures of the accident scene at the time of the accident. Whatever caused your fall could be fixed, removed, or replaced before the scene can be investigated, so it is in your best interest to gather as much evidence as possible as quickly as possible.
- Contact us so we can begin to investigate and build your case. And in the meantime, do not sign anything that relates to the fall accident unless you know exactly what you are signing and why.
If You’ve Been Injured in a Slip, Trip or Fall Accident, We Can Help
When you have suffered injury due to the negligence of someone else, you have rights, including the right to seek compensation for your injuries. For more than 20 years we have fought to protect the rights of the injured and ensure they get the redress they need and deserve for their injuries and losses and we will do the same for you. Contact us today to learn more about your rights and whether you are entitled to compensation.
