In your day to day life, there’s always a risk of tripping and falling. This could happen in your home or outside, perhaps in the shopping mall or in the parking lobby at your workplace. Whichever the case, some of these accidents may cause minor injuries, whereas others could result in injuries that are a bit severe, perhaps enough to prevent you from working or carrying out your day-to-day activities. If you trip and fall in another person’s premises and sustain significant injuries, you could be entitled to monetary compensation depending on the circumstances within which the accident occurred and what caused it. In essence, this is because owners of such premises (sometimes even employers) owe you a duty of care under the law.
But first things first; before compensation is considered, one has to seek medical attention as soon as they can so a thorough check-up can be done to receive treatment and establish the severity of injuries if any. In insurance companies (who normally provide compensation), your medical report is your first evidence of the accident. In most cases, however, the compensation has to follow the legal process for the complainant to get justice served. Before you even get to the compensation part, your wellness is the number one priority… right?
Assuming your answer is yes, when should you seek medical attention after a slip and fall?
Immediately After!
When you’ve just slipped and fallen on someone’s property or place of business, it’s not uncommon to feel the urge to get back on your feet and carry on with your business. Well, it may be the best thing to do at that moment, especially if no injuries are apparent, and you have an important place to be in the next short while. However, how sure are you that you didn’t sustain internal injuries? If you guessed right, the only way to tell for sure is by seeking medical attention right away.
If you delay seeking medical attention, it could easily hurt your personal injury case in a slip and fall accident. Did your injuries really come from the slip-and-fall accident? Are they even severe as you claim them to be? Gary B. Englander, an experienced personal injury attorney says that these questions are some of the tools insurance company lawyers may use against your interests in a slip and fall accident compensation claim case to minimize the payout or deny it altogether. After all, they’re a business like any other and they have to make profits at the end of the day.
Some reasons you should seek medical attention immediately include:
Checking Out For Injuries
When involved in a slip and fall, you may not experience immediate signs and symptoms of any injury. Some injuries may take some time to manifest while others may show immediately like bruises, sprains, strains, and cuts. These are easily treatable and manageable as the physician is in a position to attend to you and prescribe medication. On the other hand, the victim could suffer major issues such as spine injury, traumatic brain injury, fractures, and broken bones, which may take time to heal and really cost a lot! Assuming you’ve at some point experienced a small cut – remember how it hurt? Now put yourself in the shoes of someone who fractured his arm and try to imagine the pain he feels. Thrilling, right?
You Need Clear and Proper Evidence
Slip and fall accidents, as earlier stated, may result in monetary compensation. In some cases, however, the premises’ owners may try to dodge from compensating you. Your first evidence after your accident is the doctors’ report. The doctor will clearly indicate the cause and result of the accident. With the doctor’s report on the table, you maximize your chances of receiving fair compensation.
Maintaining a Follow-Up
If not you, someone close to you got a small bruise or strain which later on grew into something bigger and more serious. Some have gone as bad as being cancerous wounds. What seemed like a minor bruise on the head from falling from a staircase could easily develop into an internal or external wound. This could later develop into something requiring surgery, amputation, or even life in a wheelchair. Honestly, no one would like to get to such a point. So, when you get an injury no matter how small, follow up with the doctor until you completely heal and your body retains steady health.
In conclusion, the doctor plays an important role in accidents involving slipping and falling. Your medical professional’s report produces the required evidence and the case follow-up starts from there. We have also seen that taking too long to see the doctor may affect your compensation as well as your payout amount for the damages. If you ever find yourself in such a situation, see the doctor immediately!
