Hurt in a slip and fall at work

Workers comp pays first

You were hurt in a slip and fall at work, and the bills have already started. Workers comp pays first. It covers your medical bills and part of your lost wages.

In most states you cannot sue your own employer for a work fall. Workers comp takes the place of that lawsuit.

Fault does not stop benefits

Workers comp pays no matter who was at fault, even if it was you. Falls caused by being drunk or high are the exception.

OSHA lists falls on the same level among the leading causes of serious work injuries. You are far from alone in this.

When another company is to blame

Sometimes a company other than your employer caused the fall. Then you have a second path, a claim against that company. That claim sits outside workers comp.

Think of a cleaning contractor who left a wet floor, or a property owner where you made a delivery. A maker of faulty equipment counts too. A premises liability lawyer builds that claim with proof of the hazard.

What to do this week after a slip and fall at work

First, call us for a free case review. Then report the fall in writing the same day. Each state sets its own reporting deadline, often within days or weeks.

Get treated and keep copies of every record and your workers comp claim number. If you fell on another company's property, photograph the spot and write down witness names. Our checklist after a fall walks you through the rest.

How Kevin's fall plays out

Kevin slipped on an oily floor at a warehouse in Ohio. His medical bills and lost wages go through his employer's workers comp insurer. An oily floor is the kind of walking surface hazard OSHA addresses.

If a cleaning contractor had left that oil, Kevin would also have a claim against the contractor. A slip and fall lawyer in Ohio works on contingency. Kevin pays no fee unless he wins.