Slip-and-fall incidents are some of the most common workplace injuries.
Workplaces oftentimes have dangerous tripping hazards that were improperly addressed or not addressed at all.
If you have been injured at work in a slip-and-fall accident, you may require time off and medical care.
At Mehta & McConnell, PLLC, we understand that slip and falls may have physical, mental, and financial impacts on your life.
We can help you file a workers’ compensation claim, which can help you with the financial assistance that you need after an injury.
If you have been injured at work, our firm is here to help you get the compensation and justice that you deserve.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation, or “workers’ comp,” is a form of insurance that is paid for by your employer.
If you suffer an injury as a direct result of your job, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance will be responsible for assisting you financially after your injury.
These benefits can include coverage for medical and therapy bills, lost wage coverage during treatment and recovery, and financial assistance with some of the out-of-pocket expenses that were incurred as a result of your injury.
You have only a limited amount of time after an injury to file a worker’s compensation claim, so please reach out to Mehta & McConnell if you are worried about meeting this deadline.
If you slipped and fell at work, it is possible that you are entitled to important benefits through a workers’ compensation claim.
Occupations with High Percentages of Slip And Falls
There are certain occupations with higher risks of slipping and falling at work.
These jobs often have environments that present hazardous situations like wet floors, wires on the floor, clutter, furniture, construction tools, or equipment that can pose a slip-and-fall risk.
Some of these higher-risk jobs include:
- Roofing,
- Carpentry,
- Construction,
- Tree trimming,
- Truck driving, and
- Farming.
These are not all jobs that pose higher risks of slip and falls, and you can slip and fall at any type of job.
What Should I Do If I Fell at Work and Hurt My Back?
If you fell at work and hurt your back (or any other part of your body), you should consider taking the below steps to ensure you have the strongest claim possible.
Step 1: Evaluate Your Injuries
The first step after a slip and fall is to evaluate your injuries. Check for signs of serious injuries like broken bones or fractures.
If you have severe injuries, you should call for medical help to assist you in getting to a hospital.
Step 2: Seek Medical Treatment
This step is crucial when building a slip-and-fall claim. Even if you do not have severe injuries, it is worth going to the doctor and being evaluated.
You want to make sure you get evaluated as close to the accident as possible.
If you take too much time in seeking medical treatment, your employer can argue that another event between the time of the accident and you seeking medical care was the cause of your injuries.
Step 3: Document the Accident
Documentation of the accident will be key when building your slip-and-fall case. Try to take photos or videos of whatever caused you to slip and fall.
You will want to do this as close to the time of the accident as you can so that the scene correctly portrays what caused any of your injuries.
Next, you’ll want to try and gather the contact information of people who may have seen you fall. Witnesses to the incident will help you build a stronger claim.
Lastly, try to jot down or journal exactly what happened before, during, and after the incident. Doing this will ensure that you are able to recall exactly what happened if you need to down the line.
Step 4: Notify Your Employer
If you slip and fall at work, you must notify your employer within a certain amount of time to remain eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
In North Carolina, you should notify your employer of the accident as soon as possible.
However, state statute requires that you submit your written notice within 30 days of the accident or occurrence.
In addition, you will want to try to make sure that the notification to your employer is in writing.
If you have already spoken to your employer on the phone or in person about your injury, we suggest you follow up with them over email.
Your email should summarize whom you spoke to and what you spoke to them about.
Step 5: Speak to a Workers’ Compensation Attorney
One of the most important steps in filing a workers’ compensation claim is hiring an attorney.
A lawyer will be able to help you build the strongest case possible and can assist you in following the proper filing procedures.
Further, you will want to hire an attorney who is knowledgeable in slip-and-fall workers’ compensation claims so that you can get the most compensation possible for your injury.
Step 6: Keep Records
Throughout this process, you will want to try to keep records of everything that has happened. This will bolster your claim for any workers’ compensation benefits that you are entitled to receive.
Specifically, keep all your medical bills, hospital visit papers, or doctor’s visit documents in a secure place so that if you need them down the line, you will have them readily available.
Your attorney will also be able to help you in keeping your records.
How Can Mehta & McConnell Help You?
At Mehta & McConnell, we have attorneys who have experience in workers’ compensation claims and workplace injuries.
When it comes to slip and falls at work, you want to make sure that you are represented by a knowledgeable attorney who can help you get the justice and compensation that you deserve.
Mehta & McConnell provides free consultations for all potential clients.
In addition, if you are an undocumented worker, know that we can also assist you in a workplace injury claim and that you have rights to certain compensation if you are injured on the job.
If you would like to read about the experiences of our previous clients, you can read client reviews on our testimonials page.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us online or contact us by phone at 980-414-3332 so that we can begin assisting you in your workers’ compensation claim today.
Jason McConnell
Jason McConnell is the managing attorney of Mehta & McConnell Injury Lawyers, a Charlotte, North Carolina Workers’ Compensation law firm. In his free time he enjoys playing golf, cooking, traveling and following the UNC Tar Heels and Carolina Panthers.
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