Slip-and-fall accidents are the leading cause of emergency room visits, as well as the primary cause for missed work days, according to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI). If someone was actually responsible for the unsafe conditions that caused the accident, the situation can turn into a liability case. There are numerous safety code violations in residential, commercial, and public spaces. Some of the most common causes of slip-and-fall include:

• Broken Stains
• Loose Handrails
• Open Unguarded Manholes
• Wet Floors
• Torn Carpet
• Bad Lighting

If the accident could have been prevented by the responsibly party, you may have a case. Injuries incurred from slip-and-fall accidents can be debilitating and overwhelming. From inability to work to enormous medical bills, there's a significant amount of stress for the injured party to deal with in addition to the injury itself.

What should you do right after you fall? After you have gotten medical attention, take the time to document when and how the injury occurred. Write down your version of the fall as soon as possible for your sake and the sake of the attorney you hire. Take down the name and contact information of any witnesses. If you fall in a store, make sure the people in charge know about your condition (get their names, too). Also, take pictures of the conditions in the area in which you fell. These establish the record in case conditions are later changed.

The most important advice to keep in mind is not to take anything offered by the insurance company before consulting with your personal injury attorney in Rockville, MD, at Kurtz and Peters. The insurance company works for the responsible party and it is their job to pay out as little as possible. So, the best rule is to be polite but say as little as possible if they approach you before you've hired your lawyer.