What to do if you fall over in a Public Space

If you’re out and about in a public space, a trip or fall can be a traumatic experience. If the incident wasn’t your fault, and was caused by the negligence of another, it’s imperative to know what to do.

Adhering to the correct guidelines could be the difference between having to put up with excruciating pain and knowing that the injury compensation you receive, by working with a firm such as Co-op accident claims, will be sufficient to cover all of your medical costs.

Report the accident

If you’re in a privately owned building which is open to the public, the protocol is quite straightforward: you must immediately find a member of staff and explain what has happened and insist that the incident is written down in an accident log book.

If you’re walking down the street and trip over a crack in the pavement, things are a little more complex. The first priority, again, however, is to contact the local council and report the incident.

If there are just grounds for a claim, your case is infinitely strengthened by reporting the incident as soon as possible after it has happened. 

Collect evidence

Once you have reported the incident and have had time to compose yourself, the next step - assuming you perceive that there may be grounds for a just personal injury claim - is to begin collecting evidence at the scene.

Firstly, take photographs of the scene, as this will help to both jog your memory when questioned about events at a later date and ultimately strengthen your case. If the issue is a crack in the pavement, for example, place a coin next to the crack in order to give a clearer impression of its size.

Once you have taken photographic evidence of the accident site, ask around to see if anyone else witnessed the event and would be willing to provide a statement at a later date. Take down the personal details of any potential witnesses, including their name, telephone number and address. You may not require their testimony in the end, but it’s better to err on the side of caution, as it can only help strengthen your case. 

The final step in evidence collection is to write down everything that you can remember about the event. You will already have a copy of the incident, as it was recorded in the accident log book, but given that your memory of the event is likely to recede over time, it’s imperative to write everything down in as much detail as possible.

Seek professional advice

The trauma of falling over in a public space and the subsequent impact on your overall health and wellbeing can cloud your judgement greatly. It is easy to look for someone else to blame when the accident was actually your own fault.

If you feel that you may have a case for a personal injury claim, but are still a little uncertain, it’s best to seek professional advice. Contacting a reputable, personal injury specialist, such as Co-operative legal services, is the best place to start.

Receiving independent advice from experts regarding whether or not there is a case to be answered will greatly help with your peace of mind; you’ll be able to sleep soundly in the knowledge that you are pursuing the right course of action.