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What Happens if You Slip and Fall at Work?

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It’s important to know what happens if you slip and fall at work and how to proceed to secure appropriate compensation for your injuries. While you generally can’t sue in the event of a workplace slip and fall injury, there are other options to keep in mind. Seeking medical care, documenting and reporting your fall, and being careful about publicly discussing your accident are all critical aspects of seeking workers’ compensation after an accident.

It may seem daunting to undergo the workers’ compensation process while recovering from a slip and fall injury. The experienced Missouri slip and fall attorneys at Brown & Crouppen can handle the complexities of this process so you can focus on getting better.

What To Do After a Slip and Fall at Work

If you’ve been hurt in a slip and fall accident at work, you’re probably wondering what your rights are and what steps to take next. You have the right to seek compensation after a workplace accident. The following steps can maximize your chances of receiving fair compensation for your slip and fall injury.

Step 1: Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Always seek medical attention immediately if you’ve been hurt in a slip and fall case, even if you think your injuries are minor. It’s important to get evidence on paper of the date the fall occurred and that you sought medical care immediately after the accident. Getting prompt medical attention is also critical because even if you don’t think you are injured at the moment, there’s always the risk that an injury might manifest later with serious consequences. This is especially true of head injuries, for which it’s particularly common to feel fine one day and suffer dangerous health effects the next. Getting a medical evaluation is crucial if you slipped and fell at work, especially if you think you may have hit your head.

Step 2: Document Evidence of the Fall and Why It Happened

Gather as much evidence as you can of the scene of the fall and the circumstances that caused you to slip. This is an important part of the legal process. Doing so as soon as possible after the fall ensures you can document conditions exactly as they were when you slipped. For example, take a picture of a wet floor without appropriate signage or of a staircase in need of repair at the moment the injury happened. This will stop your employer from returning later, fixing the issue, and claiming it wasn’t dangerous when you fell. A knowledgeable slip and fall attorney can help you collect evidence later on. However, having fresh evidence in hand as soon as possible is always in your best interest.

Step 3: Report the Accident to Your Employer Within 30 Days

It’s imperative to report your accident and injury to your employer within 30 days of the date the fall occurred. You have two years in Missouri to file a claim for workers’ compensation. However, if you’re inadequately compensated by your employer for a workplace injury, failing to report your injury to your employer promptly jeopardizes your ability to collect it.

Your employer likely has a form they use internally to file a report. Even if your employer does not provide an appropriate form to document your claim, the Missouri Department of Labor provides Form WC-280-AI online for you to file with your employer. It’s critical to have this documentation on file and to secure proof that your employer received it, ideally in writing.

Step 4: Avoid Posting on Social Media

Do not post on social media about your accident, injuries, workplace, activities, or anything else that could even slightly relate to your slip and fall accident. Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer will thoroughly comb through your social media posts to prove that your injuries were not as severe as you claim.

Any information showing that you were uninjured after your accident or that your accident may have occurred under even slightly different circumstances than you reported can be used against you during settlement negotiations. Avoiding social media altogether is universally a good rule of thumb after a slip and fall accident.

Step 5: Keep Up With Doctors' Appointments and Medical Treatment

Keep attending doctors’ appointments and maintaining recommended medical treatment after a slip and fall accident, even if you think you feel better and treatment isn’t worth pursuing. Keeping up with regular appointments and treatment helps you prove that you’re taking your injuries seriously and that they were as severe as you claim. This is an important type of evidence in your case. Your employer can and will use it against you if they discover that you have stopped treatment or did not make further appointments that would be recommended for injuries like yours.

Step 6: Reach Out to a Reliable Slip and Fall Attorney

Contacting an attorney as soon as possible is always in your best interest in a slip and fall case. The Missouri slip and fall statute of limitations is normally five years from the date of the injury, though only two years for workers’ compensation cases. While that may seem like plenty of time, it becomes more difficult to prove any slip and fall case as time passes after it arises.

You can rely on the diligent attorneys at Brown & Crouppen if you’ve been hurt in a slip and fall accident on the job. Our attorneys understand the legal process surrounding slip and fall injuries. We can help you navigate the legal landscape after your accident so you can focus on recovery.

Can You Sue for Falling at Work?

In most cases, you can’t sue for slip and fall injuries you sustain at work because workers’ compensation insurance is designed to compensate you for most on-the-job injuries. However, there are some circumstances in which you can sue your employer or another legally liable party after you’ve been hurt on the job.

For example, you could sue if your employer failed to carry workers’ compensation insurance to cover your injuries. It may also be possible for you to sue a third party—such as a maintenance or cleaning contractor—if your injuries resulted from their negligence.

To sue anyone for a slip and fall injury you sustained at work, you’ll need to prove that the defendant caused your injuries. If you have a viable lawsuit, our knowledgeable personal injury attorney can build a strong case on your behalf. We will gather all available evidence, calculate your slip and fall damages, and protect your right to compensation.

When To Contact a Lawyer for Your Slip and Fall Claim

If you’ve been hurt in a fall at work and believe you may have a personal injury claim, the experienced Missouri personal injury attorneys at Brown & Crouppen are here to help. With over $1 billion recovered in verdicts and settlements for our clients and conveniently located offices in St. Louis and Kansas City, we’ll fight for you every step of the way. Call (800) 536-4357 or contact us online today to schedule your free legal consultation.

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