A slip and fall accident can happen unexpectedly and often leads to injuries that send people to the emergency room or an urgent care center, where medical bills can quickly add up.
Even what seems like a minor injury from a fall can take months or even years to heal, creating a financial strain along the way. It’s common to need extended physical therapy to restore the full range of motion in areas like the hands, wrists, elbows, hips, knees, feet, back, and neck.
After a slip and fall accident in Kentucky, seek immediate medical care, report the incident, and document the hazard with photos and witness contacts. Avoid admitting fault and consult an experienced Kentucky personal injury lawyer while keeping thorough records of your treatment and expenses to protect your claim.
If you’re ever injured in a Slip and fall accident, you may be surprised by what comes next. Here’s what you need to know about protecting your health, your finances, and your rights.
1. You Should Seek Medical Care Immediately
After you’re injured in a trip, slip or fall, get medical treatment as soon as possible. See a doctor to start the road to recovery and establish a medical record of your injury. Keep all medical documents, including any bills you pay.
This documentation may be valuable later if you decide to seek compensation for your injury. Injuries from falls can be expensive, and you may need to prove exactly how much you spent.
2. There’s a Likelihood That Someone Else Shares the Blame
It’s easy to blame yourself for a slip and fall accident injury, but don’t jump to conclusions. In many states, including the state of Kentucky, even if you share part of the blame, you still can receive compensation for your injuries. The property owner may owe you money for their proportion of responsibility.
According to CPSC and industry reports, flooring materials play a role in over 2 million injuries annually, and falls cause more than 8 million ER visits per year—so poor flooring is a meaningful contributor to fall risk.
Think about where you were when the injury occurred. Did you trip over a flap of old carpeting at a restaurant? Did you stumble due to crumbling stairs in front of your rental home? Did you slip on a wet surface in a public building? In these situations, someone else may be at fault—the restaurant owner, the landlord or the city government, as examples.
3. It’s Important to Report and Document the Accident
Many people don’t realize the importance of notifying the right people right away. As soon as possible after the incident, report it to the manager, owner, landlord or whoever is responsible for the property. Even if it just happened at a family member or friend’s house, it’s essential that you notify the homeowner.
It’s also within your rights to request documentation of the incident. For example, if you’re injured at a grocery store, you can request a written report from the store manager. If you’re injured at a friend’s apartment, you can talk to their landlord and ask for a written document that confirms the date and time you reported it.
Take photos of the location of the incident and any contributing factors, like unstable flooring, missing handrails, poor lighting, icy patches and so forth. Note the timing, weather conditions and anything else that seems relevant.
4. Don’t Share, Don’t Accuse, Don’t Give Statements
Although it’s important to notify the property owner, keep your statements brief and don’t get into a debate with them. Avoid directly accusing them or answering any questions about the details of the situation.
Also, refrain from sharing what happened on social media, in an online review or through any other public format. These statements could come back to haunt you later. The property owner and their lawyer could twist your words and try to avoid the blame.
5. Contact a Qualified Personal Injury Attorney
A slip and fall accident injury is the perfect example of a time in your life when you need a talented lawyer on your side. These cases are notoriously difficult to prove, so you’ll need a personal injury attorney who has seen plenty of them and understands what it takes to handle them successfully.
It’s best if your lawyer lives right here in Kentucky. A local attorney drives your streets every day and knows people around town. When it comes time to arrange a settlement or take it to court, a trusted local lawyer is someone a judge or lawyer will immediately recognize, helping you get the best outcome possible.
Trust McCoy & Sparks—Premier Personal Injury Attorneys in Nelson County
Recognized as Nelson County’s best law firm for over a decade and counting, McCoy & Sparks works to help people in trouble, representing thousands of clients in Central Kentucky with a focus on providing premium service and delivering superior results.
Regardless of the type of case, our goal is to develop a strategy that best serves your personal needs, then draw upon our courtroom skills to help you reach the best possible result. We start by getting to know you. Next, we will explain all your options, giving you the pros and cons of each choice so that you will be empowered to make informed decisions. You owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Make the right call to 1-844-4KY-WINS for a risk-free consultation with one of our attorneys today.