| A case of tough grapes | | | | location of any carried items. |
| I attended an accident call where a person had | | | | Taking good evidence photographs |
| slipped on a grape falling over causing serious | | | | I had a second team member with me who was |
| injury to them and they were going to sue the | | | | tasked to take the photographs for the report |
| company. Believe it or not but slips and falls are | | | | and they worked quietly in the background |
| fairly common in workplaces and need a good | | | | according to our accident investigation procedures. |
| system of investigation and report management | | | | They know to respond and take photographs of |
| to reduce the amount of false claims. | | | | whatever I point out without being noticed. |
| Tough break | | | | In this investigation I discreetly pointed to the |
| I was the closest response member so I took | | | | shoes being worn at the time of the slip and fall |
| the call and headed in. Having worked in insurance | | | | because I wanted a photograph of the soles. |
| fraud investigations I always take note when | | | | Giving them a chance to change their statement |
| someone states they are suing immediately after | | | | After taking down their statement I asked if they |
| an injury, because most people worry about being | | | | were sure of their statement and if I could ask |
| embarrassed when they fall over and don't want | | | | some questions to confirm in detail the events of |
| to sue. | | | | the injury. |
| If this person was trying to make a false claim it | | | | I pointed out to them that the grape they state |
| was their bad day because I was handling the | | | | was stepped on was still intact and loose on the |
| accident investigation for this one instead of a | | | | floor. It was clear that it was intact in every way. |
| lesser experienced member. | | | | Were they sure they had stepped on the grape |
| On arrival at the scene | | | | and not just slipped on the floor when walking. |
| As I enter the location I immediately scan the | | | | They were adamant that they stepped on that |
| floor and position of everything nearby, including | | | | grape but it was just tough and didn't break. |
| the position of the injured person for my report. | | | | Collecting the evidence |
| They stated that they were walking along as | | | | In completing my report I noted the condition of |
| normal before they stepped on a loose grape. | | | | the tough grape which I had collected, a |
| The grape burst causing them to skid on the floor | | | | photograph of the shoes that showed signs of |
| and fall to the ground on their knees, bruising | | | | heavy wear but no grape juice or liquid marks at |
| them heavily. | | | | all, and a copy of the surveillance footage showing |
| I listened intensively and let them tell their | | | | her running along the floor chasing her child before |
| statement while at the same time I am making | | | | the slip. |
| close observations regarding the nature of the | | | | Report complete and the company was not sued. |
| injuries, the type of surface, shoe condition, and | | | | |