You are walking along, going over your grocery shopping list and the many errands you have to run after. You look up, just in time to see the wet floor. You attempt to brace yourself, but it is too late, and you are falling hard. Everything in your hands goes all over the place and you are left with a pounding headache. You agree to medical care from the emergency personnel, but now you are wondering if you can afford the high cost of hospital care. Depending on the situation of the fall, the retailer might be responsible for your care, as well as any other costs associated.
Receive medical care immediately
Before you consider cause and compensation, get the medical care that you need. It is better to be checked out immediately, to prevent any future medical problems. Additionally, if you have medical problems associated with the slip and fall cases later on, it can be difficult to prove that they are related. Slip and fall cases have the best chances when everything is documented. You should receive medical care, especially if you have previous back or injuries or if you hit your head during the fall.
Keep all records and documents
You will also want to keep all records and documents associated with the slip and fall cases. A personal injury claim usually requires proof of documentation. This means if you are attempting to have medical costs covered, make sure you have all records of medical care received. If you are attempting to have time off work covered, make sure you get documentation of the exact amount of time missed. Additionally, consider things like items broken or expected medical care costs later on. You can usually get an estimation of expected medical costs by consulting with a physician.
Get in touch with witnesses of the injury
There were likely other customers or employees that witnessed the slip and fall. If there way, they could be a valuable part of your personal injury case. About 22% of slip and fall incidents resulted in more than 31 days away from work. When you experienced severe medical injuries or extended amounts of time from work, your claim amount increases. For higher compensation personal injury cases, you want to ensure that you have all of the documentation and proof that is needed. People that witnessed the injury can be very helpful.
Work with experienced personal injury attorneys
Slip and fall cases require experience and knowledge of the legal system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 17,000 slip and fall accidents (also known as premises liability accidents) occur every year. In fact, it is even possible that you will find a personal injury law firm that specialized in slip and fall cases. When you work with an experienced slip and fall, or personal injury law firm, they will help you through the entire legal process. They will tell you what to expect and what documents are required. They will also provide you with advice as to how to file and how to come up with a fair compensation amount.
Understand that settlements are common
About 95 to 96% of personal injury cases are settled pretrial. Many larger companies do not want to go public with a slip and fall case. Additionally, if the business loses at trial, they could end up paying millions of dollars. On the other hand, however, if the personal injury victim loses, they could end up with nothing. It is usually a good idea, for both parties, to accept a settlement. However, the exact amount of the settlement will depend on the details of the case.
Going through a personal injury case can be overwhelming and confusing. You were injured and now you require medical care. You might be forced to take time off of work and lose out on needed funds. Make sure that you receive the medical care that you need, that you are documenting every part of the process, and that you work with an experienced personal injury lawyer.
