Personal Injury Wet Floor Slip

Salem, Oregon Personal Injury Attorney: Handling Slip and Fall Cases

Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows over a million Americans hurt themselves by tripping or slipping. In fact, falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries in the country. Furthermore, these accidents are responsible for roughly 8.9 million visits to emergency room throughout the U.S.

Fall Injury Claim

With the risks present in slip and fall accidents, it is important for people to prevent these accidents from happening in the first place. In your own home, it is your responsibility to prevent these accidents. In public, on the other hand, it is the responsibility of commercial property owners or the local government to do so.

Unfortunately, there are some who are negligent in taking the measures necessary to prevent slip and fall accidents. When this happens, any person who is injured due to this negligence can hire attorneys in Salem, Oregon to help them file a personal injury lawsuit.

Of course, there are certain steps you have to take before contacting an attorney. Before you pick up the phone, do your best to follow these steps:

Immediate Reporting

Report the accident as soon as possible, preferably within the day. Insurance companies often doubt the legitimacy of slip and fall claims when there is a delay in reporting. If you slip in a commercial property, immediately inform the owner, manager, or highest ranking member present. If you slip in a public space like a park or government building, call city hall.

Gather Evidence

In many slip and fall cases, you are the one responsible for providing proof. If possible, take pictures of the accident. Capture any images of snow, water, or a lack of warning signs. In the event you are physically unable to take pictures, ask someone to do so for you as soon as possible. If there were any witnesses, ask for their name and contact details.

Seek Medical Attention

Naturally, you will feel sore after a slip and fall accident, but do not forget that it can also cause serious injuries like a concussion or a fracture. Seek medical attention after being involved in a slip and fall accident.

After you’ve completed the steps above, that is the time you call a Salem, Oregon personal injury attorney like Lance D. Youd. By providing the full details of the accident, an experienced attorney can help you determine whether or not the accident was caused by negligence and if you have a legitimate case on your hands.

(Source: Starting a Slip/Fall Injury Claim;
