Have you ever fallen over a pavement slab or slipped over a puddle in a public building where there wasn’t a sign?
All of the scenarios where you are injured outside of work may sound trivial but they can leave you with serious medical problems such as a broken back or twisted nerves.vYou could then end up in the hospital for weeks or months on end, unable to work or attend to your everyday life.
Don’t despair. Here’s what to do if you are injured outside of work.
1. Get Yourself Any Medical Attention You Need
The most important first cause of action after an accident is to get yourself as much medical attention as you need. Any lawsuit can wait. Don’t worry about trying to sort it out at the moment.
Pay for your medical bills but keep a copy of your receipts so that you can claim them back either on insurance or in a subsequent lawsuit. If you have a partner or other loved one who can help let them take care of everything for you.
Getting well is more important than any of the financial implications of your accident.
2. Gather Key Details
When you are well on the way to recovery then you can start to gather some key details that can help you build a solid case. The details you need to gather will depend on the nature of your accident and where it took place. Key dates and times are important as is the venue.
You also need to try to establish whether the correct procedure was followed or not. If you slipped on the wet floor of a bathroom try to remember if there was a sign outside or not indicating this.
If there wasn’t then the company or building where the accident took place might be at fault.
3. Hunt for Witness
The next step is to track down any witnesses to the event. Were there any members of staff walking by as you fell or other members of the public? See if you can track them down.
Put some adverts in local newspapers and advertise on Facebook groups to see which witnesses are available to testify in any up and coming lawsuit.
Contrary to popular belief, America’s litigious society is a myth, Americans only sue if they have to so you shouldn’t feel bad about it. Most people are willing to help each other out.
4. Get a Good Lawyer
The key to resolving any non-work related injury is to get a lawyer who can fight your corner for you. They can gather all of your witnesses and key details together to create a strong case for you.
Many good lawyers will also offer to represent you on a no-win, no-fee basis meaning there is no upfront cost for you.
Going to court might seem stressful but the future of lawsuits is online courts so you may well not even have to leave the comfort of your own home in the future.
Injured Outside of Work? Don’t Despair, Get Well and Lawyer Up
If you’ve been injured outside of work and it appears that you will be off for the foreseeable future then don’t despair. Get well first and then be sure to find a good lawyer who understands the law regarding being injured outside of work.
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