Slip and Fall Accidents

Next to car accidents, the most common type of injury mishap is a slip and fall. While many slip and fall accidents are minor and don’t result in injuries, some are serious and result in significant injuries and losses to the victim, including large medical bills and lost wages. If you are injured in a slip and fall accident, it is important to know if the property owner where it occurred is liable. Here are some legal rules as well as steps to take if you are hurt in a slip and fall accident.

Many people think that just because they are hurt in a slip and fall accident, the property owner is automatically liable. This is not always true. To be liable, a property owner must have known (or should have known) about the dangerous condition and failed to take steps to prevent injuries.

For example, suppose you slip on a wet spot in a market. Whether you can recover damages usually depends on how long the floor was wet and what employees knew and did to prevent accidents. If the floor was wet for a while and employees knew about it but did nothing, you will likely recover damages. But if the floor became wet just before you slipped, recovering damages may be harder.

How to Protect Yourself

If you get hurt in a slip and fall accident, there are several things you should do to protect your rights and help make sure you can recover as much as you are entitled to receive under the law. They include:

• make written notes on the accident;

• get the names, addresses and phone numbers of witnesses;

• save any evidence, such as whatever caused the fall.

Also, do not sign anything or give any statements before talking to us. When a customer is hurt in a slip and fall accident, store employees often try to get statements to use against them later. You are not legally required to say anything to the other side, and you should not before you consult your lawyer.

Slip and fall accidents can result in very serious injuries and losses to the victim. If you are hurt in a slip and fall victim and suffer injuries, you will likely want to make a claim to recover your damages. If you intend to make a claim, call us promptly. You will want to pursue your claim while the facts are fresh in your mind and the minds of witnesses. Also, there are time limits for making claims which, if not followed, can result in losing your claim.