What to do if you Have an Accident in a Public Place

It’s a nice day, and everything has been going well so far. Then suddenly, the unexpected happens. You trip, fall and injure yourself. It happens to many people every day. And if you’ve experienced it yourself, you already know what a nuisance it is. You’ll probably have to put some plans on hold, take time off work, and if the injury is serious enough, you’ll require medical help to get back on track.

If you’ve had a public space accident, you’re probably unsure how to proceed and what steps you should follow next. The following suggestions can offer you some guidance in this sense and help you navigate this difficult time a little more easily. 

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Get medical help

The first thing you need to do after an accident is get medical help. Many types of injuries can occur due to accidental falls of varying degrees of severity. Among them: 

■ Cuts, abrasions, and bruising: Perhaps the most common type of injuries can appear anywhere on the body. Depending on the severity of the injury, you may require stitches and antibiotic treatment to prevent infections. If you have a coagulation disorder or know that your blood coagulation is otherwise impaired due to medication or genetics, you should contact your haematologist for further information. 

■ Soft tissue damage: Strained or torn muscles, tendons or ligaments are common following accidents. They are also extremely uncomfortable and can leave you in a significant amount of pain, even if the injury isn’t extensive. You must follow your doctor’s recommendations attentively. Otherwise, you risk being left with permanent damage. 

■ Broken bones: A more complicated injury, broken bones heal at varying speeds depending on the patient’s age, bone density, and fracture site. A fractured finger will heal much faster than a broken femur. 

■ Head and spinal cord injuries: Perhaps the most serious injuries, blows to the nervous system can result in irreversible damage, so they must be treated immediately. 

Even if you believe that you’re okay and don’t notice anything wrong, it’s best to see a physician anyways, just to err on the side of caution. Some injuries take longer than others to show up, so a medical assessment can also determine if you’re at increased risk of any condition. 

Report the accident

Reporting the incident is the next step you need to take. Address the responsible authority wherever you are. So if you’re in a store, you should speak to the manager, and if you’re in front of an apartment building, you should take your complaint to the landlord. By doing this, you ensure that the case is recorded.

Make sure to include any details you can offer and ask for a copy to report for yourself. No matter what caused your fall, uneven or wet floors, snow and ice, or inadequate lighting, declaring it is the first step in making sure the ones responsible are held accountable for negligence. 

Document the situation

Gather as much information about the accident while it’s still fresh on your mind. If you are still shaken and don’t feel like writing it all down or typing on your phone, record yourself using a voice memo app. Note the date, time and location. Get the street or avenue name right, and include pertinent details about the location where you fell, the way you fell, and what type of injuries you sustained.

Take pictures of the area, particularly the hazard that contributed to your misfortune. If any of the clothing items or footwear you were wearing at the time became damaged, make sure you keep them as evidence. 

Lay a legal claim

If you’ve assembled all this evidence, you’re ready to take it further and compile a personal injury claim. When dealing with matters of the law, it’s essential to have a team of professionals guiding you along the way. The experts at No Win No Fee Solicitors Co. will walk you through the entire process and do everything to guarantee that you stand the highest likelihood of having a successful claim. They can answer any question you have, clarify your uncertainties and examine the details of your case in minute detail to determine what the best route is and what is the most realistic outcome you can expect. 

If you are unsure about what type of evidence you need, they will offer the necessary information on where and how to obtain it. You may benefit from having copies of medical reports and witness contact details or CCTV footage, if available. The compensation you are owed depends on the site of your injury and the severity.

For example: 

■ Moderate ankle injuries, resulting in moderate walking disabilities, can amount to a sum ranging between £12,900 and £24,950, while severe wounds can raise to £46,980. 

■ Moderate knee injuries, like dislocations, can mean that you are owed up to £24,580 by the defendant. In contrast, a severe wound resulting in an abnormal amount of pain or permanent disability can mean £65,440 to £90,290 in damages. 

■ Severe damage to the fingers, such as complicated fractures or amputations, makes you liable for £34,480. 

If you’ve had to deal with additional expenses due to your accident, you can claim special damages. These include medical costs not covered by your insurance, home adjustments you’ve had to make, or the loss of your income if you’ve acquired a disability incompatible with work. 

Prioritize emotional health

After having an accident, it’s normal to struggle to regain your mental balance. You may be dealing with many conflicting emotions depending on the injuries you sustained, ranging from anxiety to anger to depression. It can also feel like a generalised feeling of uneasiness, the sensation that all is not well, although to the surface it appears to be so, sleep troubles or elevated irritability. You may also be dealing with guilt over the accident.

It’s important not to blame yourself for what happened. Repeated medical procedures can heighten your emotional symptoms and make them even more difficult. If you believe that you cannot make sense of what has happened and can’t come to terms with what has happened to you, you should try counselling. 

There are many steps to take if you’ve been through an accident, but they are all important to go back to how things were as soon as possible. 

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