OSHA stats show a shocking number of fatalities and serious injuries are caused by slips, trips, and falls each year. Unfortunately, many of these happen on the job, leaving the injured open to a multitude of negative consequences. These include lost wages, medical costs, recovery time, lost wages, emotional trauma, and more.
Because slips and falls at work can lead to long-term injuries, you’ll want to make sure to contact one of the best worker compensation attorneys before signing anything. In addition, you’ll want to make sure you also know the following information.
Worker Compensation Attorneys Weigh-in on What to do After a Slip and Fall Accident
The hours and days after a slip and fall can be very stressful. There are so many things to do and yet, you may feel like you don’t know what to do at all.
Seek Medical Attention
All decent worker compensation law firms will tell you that the very first thing you should do after slips and falls is to seek medical attention. Too many injured parties don’t go to the doctor 
or hospital. Reasons why include:
- Not feeling like their injuries are serious enough
- Not knowing the workman’s compensation procedures
- Being afraid of employer backlash or targeting
Although common, this is a huge mistake. Worker’s compensation lawyers in Geneva, Auburn, Pen Yan, and Ithaca, NY, see so many cases of “hidden injuries.” For example, head, neck, shoulders, and back injuries often go undetected.
Report the Accident to Your Supervisor
After you seek help for any possible injuries, you’ll want to report the incident to your manager or supervisor. You’ll want to do so in writing, even if it seems impersonal or awkward to do so. Ensure that important details including date, time, and any witnesses are included as well.
Worker compensation law firms see many solid cases go down the drain because incidents weren’t properly reported. You don’t want to allow this loophole to be the thing that will tank your case.
Continue Documenting
As your medical reports come in and you gain (or remember) information that you think might be important to your case, continue to document. Worker compensation attorneys recommend you write down things like:
- Witness contact information
- Any contributing factors on the scene (e.g. icy stairs, a wet floor)
- Any obvious safety violation that you see
You’ll also want to store your clothing (especially shoes) in a safe place for later retrieval. Worker’s compensation lawyers suggest this as a way to refute claims that improper workwear caused the accident.
Contact Workers Compensation Attorneys
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident, contact one of New York State’s worker compensation law firms. A workman’s compensation attorney can assess your situation and develop a game plan.
While you wait, make sure that you are careful about what you say to your employer and their representatives. You never want to admit fault of any kind. At the same time, you shouldn’t throw accusations around or threaten to sue. This will put your employer on high alert and jeopardize your case.
You also shouldn’t sign any paperwork without having a worker compensation attorney’s approval. Even simple documents that seem harmless could be used by your employer as a way to absolve themselves of any fault.
Every employment attorney at Littman & Babiarz law office has detailed knowledge of national and state labor laws. Our central NY attorneys are ready to assist if you need help with your worker’s compensation case in or around Geneva, Auburn, Pen Yan, or Ithaca, NY.
Doing so will ensure that you get on the right path to deserved compensation. You shouldn’t have to suffer physically, emotionally, or financially for a company’s mistake. Let one of New York’s best worker’s compensation law firms help you today.