There are many reasons why someone might experience a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall incident when in a public place. There could be spilled products or mud tracked in by other visitors near the front door. There could be power cords in the middle of the aisle that lead to someone tripping.
Often, slip-and-falls lead to just minor bruising, but sometimes people suffer significant injuries. You could break your arm if you try to stop yourself while falling, especially if you are over the age of 55, or hit your head on the floor and suffer a brain injury that doesn’t start showing symptoms until several days later.
Talking to someone at the store about the fact that you fell before you leave or reporting a slip-and-fall to a building manager may be a necessary step to protect yourself in case you need insurance coverage later.
Why would a slip-and-fall lead to an insurance claim?
Injuries may mean big medical bills. When someone breaks a bone or hits their head, the medical treatment that they require afterward will be expensive.
If someone doesn’t have insurance or has a policy with a high deductible or a coinsurance imposed, they might even avoid seeking out medical care because they feel like they can’t afford it. When someone pursues a premises liability claim against the business or property owner, they won’t need to pay they’re using patient responsibility costs for the medical treatment their injuries necessitate.
Injuries could also lead to lost wages
If someone breaks their leg and works in a kitchen, they will not be able to do their job until they can stand again. The same would be true for someone who breaks their arm and works in a hands-on position. When someone’s slip-and-fall injury results in lost wages, the insurance covering the business or property can potentially reimburse that individual for lost wages as well as medical expenses.
As a final note, property damage expenses, like a smashed phone or torn suit coat, could also be eligible for coverage after a premises liability claim. Recognizing the costs you could recover through a premises liability claim after a slip-and-fall may help you see the value in reporting your injury and requesting benefits.
