It's both painful and embarrassing to fall in public. However, it happens to people all the time. Many times, the fall is not the result of clumsiness but is the fault of a business. Read and find out more. 

What to Do

The actions you take will affect whether you are paid for your injuries. When a business is liable for injuries, it may owe you for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and lost or damaged personal items.

Take These Actions

1. Let the incident be known. Don't delay in reporting a slip-and-fall to the business. Speak to the person in charge and inform them of the accident. In most cases, an accident report will be filled out, detailing what happened. If you are hurt badly enough to be transported to a medical facility and have not contacted someone in charge at this point, remember to follow up later.
2. Gather evidence at the scene. Depending on the nature of your injuries, you might be able to do some initial evidence gathering right away. Take photos of the area around the accident scene or have someone else do so. For example, if you tripped over a cable running along the floor of a store, snap a photo of that. Video evidence can also be useful.
3. Seek medical attention. Be sure and inform the medical staff that you were hurt in an accident at a business. The medical treatment you receive and the records that come along with it are important indicators of your injuries. The sooner you seek help the stronger the evidence.
4. Be patient for a bit. In many cases, stores are insured and will follow up with you to ensure that you are paid for your damages. However, not all stores will respond in that manner. You might be offered a sum of money to settle the case, but it might not be enough to cover your needs.
5. Speak to a lawyer. Don't wait too long before you speak to a personal injury lawyer. Not only is there a statute of limitations in place, but evidence can get weak if you wait. For instance, eyewitnesses to the accident can move away, businesses can close, and more. The lawyer will find out if the business is insured against slip-and-fall accidents and will try to negotiate with them for a fair settlement. However, if the business is not cooperative, a lawsuit could be filed.

Speak to a personal injury lawyer to find out more.