When you go to the supermarket to do your weekly shop, the last thing you expect is to come back home with a broken leg, or even worse, a fractured hip! The reality of the situation is that accidents can happen anywhere, no matter how cautious you are or what kind of activity you’re doing.
An unattended hole in the parking lot or a spilled product in the drink aisle can cause a seriously nasty accident. When it comes to experiencing an injury in a commercial property, there are other factors that come into play. If you’ve suffered some kind of injury at the expense of the organisation’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation.
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In law, this type of case is commonly referred to as a “slip and fall”. If you’ve never heard of this terminology before, don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog, we’ll be exploring all that you need to know about navigating the complexities of a slip and fall case.
Seek Medical Attention
Your health comes before anything else; therefore, your main priority should be getting the medical attention that you need. If the accident is serious and urgent, you should call an ambulance to assist you. Alternatively, you can simply head to the emergency room and wait to be seen there.
Speak to a Manager
If possible, try not to leave the area without speaking to a manager. It’s important for somebody who works at the facility to see what the place of the accident looked like when the accident took place. For example, if you fell as a result of a leak, you should point this out to a manager.
Request an Incident Response
Next on the list is to request an incident report with the organisation’s headquarters. This report should be as specific as possible and include details like the date and time of the accident, its cause, and your contact information. Once you’ve filled the report, make sure to ask for a copy.
Get Information from Witnesses
Supermarkets tend to be busy places so there’s bound to be someone who witnessed your fall. If so, make sure to speak to them and ask them whether they would be willing to give a statement. Simply take down their contact details and let them know you will reach out to them to ask them what they saw. Employees are also valid witnesses.
Take Plenty of Pictures
Think of the accidents as a crime scene. Make sure you collect as much evidence as possible and take plenty of pictures of the area.
You should also document your injury and the recovery process with as many pictures as you can. When it comes to photographic evidence, you can never have too much of it and you may need to forward this to specialists like the team at Lamber Goodnow.
Look For Video Footage
Most supermarkets have an extensive network of CCTV cameras so it’s worth asking the company if there is any footage of your accident. If you suffered an accident outside the store, it may be worth asking other establishments or even residential homes if they have any possible video footage.
Write Down Insurance Information
The supermarket should have some kind of insurance policy in place to protect themselves from these kinds of incidents. Make sure to ask the manager whether they can pass on the information of the insurance provider. More often than not, the insurance company will reach out to the victim first.
Create Copies of Medical Documents
Every medical bill and report you can get your hands on should be kept in an organised folder. This will help the insurance company determine how much compensation you should be awarded with.
Follow Your Doctor’s Orders
Last but not least, you must follow your doctor’s orders to a T. After all, the main objective is to make a full recovery. Refusing to attend medical check-ups or follow the general recommendations will make it seem like your injury is not a priority or preoccupation.
The average U.S citizen goes to the supermarket around 1.6 times per week, which sounds like an accident waiting to happen.
Certain supermarkets are a complete hazard zone and may have parking lot potholes, slippery floors, and the list goes on.
Common injuries from these causes can include fractured legs, concussions, head wounds, and even back or spinal cord injuries. All in all, it’s important to remain alert and safe even while conducting relatively mundane and everyday tasks.
