Is there anything more embarrassing than falling while you are out shopping? Quite a few people knock things down on their way to the floor, and others instinctively shout or scream when they realize that they lost their balance. That could mean that there are dozens of sets of eyes staring at you as you pick yourself up off the floor.
Instead of just making a self-deprecating joke and moving on to the dairy section, you may want to take the time to report the incident to the store. Here’s why.
Reports are necessary for future claims
When you slip because there’s a spill on the floor or a puddle in the middle of the aisle because of refrigerator condensation, the store is often responsible. If proper maintenance and cleaning practices would have prevented your fall, the store may have been negligent in its upkeep of the facilities. That negligence can lead to a premises liability claim.
Thankfully, they have insurance that can cover your medical costs and your lost wages. However, in order to seek premises liability compensation, there needs to be an official record of the incident. Reporting what happened to the manager on duty may take up some of your time, but it will help you in the future if the bruise on your tailbone turns out to be hiding a fracture.
When you consider that roughly a million people every year wind up in emergency rooms because of slip-and-fall accidents, it’s easy to see that ignoring what could be a serious and even life-altering incident won’t benefit you in the long run.