Steps To Take After A Fall At Work

There are many different reasons why you might have fallen at work, such as a slippery floor, an uneven staircase or carpet tears. No matter the exact cause of your accident, if it was the fault of someone else’s negligence, you may be able to claim compensation. If you would like to pursue a personal injury case, there are certain steps that you can take which can increase the likelihood of success.

Seek Medical Attention

The most important step to take is to seek medical attention. You should ask a colleague who is trained in first aid to help you or if your injuries are more serious, you should visit the hospital. Symptoms for certain injuries can appear days or even weeks after your initial accident. If you feel like you are in any pain or discomfort after your accident, no matter how much later it is than the initial date of the incident, you should visit a medical professional.

Seeking medical attention helps to ensure that you are safe and can recover without getting worse. It also helps to create a record of your injuries which can later be used as evidence.

Report The Accident

You should report your slip and fall accident as soon as possible to your work manager or supervisor. They need to be aware of what has happened so that your accident can be recorded and so that no one else gets hurt.

Your manager or supervisor should prompt you to record the accident in the work accident book. However, if they fail to do so you should seek to do it yourself, asking them where it is if necessary. You should record the accident in this book in as much detail as possible.

It is a legal requirement for every organisation to have a work accident book on site, so you should be able to record the accident shortly after it occurred. If you are unable to record the incident in the accident book for some reason, you should send an email to a supervisor outlining what has happened. This email can also serve as a written record.

Take Photographs

You should take photographic evidence of the accident scene and of your injuries if possible. For example, if you fell because a portion of the floor was uneven, you should use a ruler to highlight this discrepancy and take a picture of it. By collecting photographs, you can easily highlight what the cause of the accident was, so it is harder for your employers to shirk responsibility for the accident if they were so inclined. If you cannot take the photographs of the accident scene or of your injuries yourself, you should ask a trusted colleague to do this for you.

Speak To Witnesses

If any of your colleagues witnessed your fall at work accident, you should ask them if they would be happy to come forward and provide witnesses statements. Some of your colleagues may feel uncomfortable doing so but many people will be happy to help as they understand that by speaking out it can help to prevent similar accidents happening in the future.

Keep a Record

You should record your own account of the accident in a journal. Furthermore, you should continue to record any feelings or thoughts that you have regarding the accident or your pain levels going forward. These records should include any developing symptoms or pain levels which relate to your accident caused injuries. This can help to clarify the extent of your pain and suffering, which can ensure that you get the right amount of compensation.

Amount Of Compensation

Most personal injury cases have a three-year time limit for making a claim. This time limit begins on the date that the accident happened. Therefore, it is important that you contact a personal injury solicitor as soon as you feel able. To find out general compensation guidelines for specific injuries, visit our compensation calculator. However, it is important to note that these are just guidelines for general damage compensation, as each case is assessed on an individual basis. To understand how much compensation you may be owed, it is best to discuss your case with a personal injury solicitor directly.

Making Personal Injury Claims

If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. First Personal Injury solicitors are available to assist you and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.

First Personal Injury work with both families and individuals across England and Wales, leading them on their legal journey and helping them claim compensation after an accident or injury. Contact our specialist team to begin the claims process, either by phone on 0800 808 9740 or through our online form.