Beware of Slip and Fall Accidents
No one plans on having an accident. While this is true, thousands of people every year suffer from slip and fall accidents at work, home, or in other public places. This type of accident can have far reaching effects on the people who suffer through them.
Work is a common place for incidents to occur. One of the most common reasons for these types of incidents is simply lack of awareness. When a custodial staff is mopping an area, for example, they usually place signs that state there is a wet floor. Unfortunately, most people simply are not aware of the signs and walk right past them. When a person hits a wet floor in shoes that are slick, the individual usually lands on his or her backside.
Once down on the ground, the individual often jumps up trying to act as though nothing happened. While it can certainly be embarrassing to have an incident witnessed, it is vitally important to report it. Even if nothing hurts at the moment, documentation needs to be done in case there is pain later. This becomes difficult to prove that it happened at work if no paperwork was filed.
Another possible place for such an incident to occur is around a swimming pool. There are always signs posted that tell members not to run due to slipping. However, even under the best circumstances a person may find themselves on the ground. Public pools, just like work places, should file a report about the incident. If lucky, the individual should be able to get up and walk away. Sometimes, however, a person may be injured to a point that medical help is needed. In this case, stay calm and inform the medical staff of exactly what happened.
The most common location for slip and fall accidents is on a staircase. Stairs, by their very nature, can be dangerous. Outdoor stairs are susceptible to incidents due to weather such as rain or ice. Most people are naturally cautious near stairs, however, problems can still occur.
Stairs become quite slick in the rain. Even if there are grip strips on the treads of the stairs, a person can easily have their foot slide off. The majority of incidents on stairs occur when a person is descending them. Once the foot misses the step, there are major issues that can occur. Head first falls are the most worrisome. However, landing on one\’s back and tailbone is equally painful and difficult to remedy.
The pain associated with slip and fall accidents can be a major setback. While broken bones are unlikely, nerve damage to the back or spine are quite common. Of course, any landing on the head is concern for hairline fractures, contusions, and swelling. Even if the incident does not have immediate consequences, it is important to stay alert to any possible problems.
Since slip and fall accidents are listed among the top in numbers, it is important to be aware of the environment when walking. No one purposely has an incident, but how it is handled afterward can be the difference between proper medical attention and living with symptoms that could have been treated.
Author Bio: Looking for a slip & fall lawyer to represent you? The most successful slip and fall lawyer Toronto will work to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
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