Slip and fall accidents can occur in almost any environment. They can also be more harmful than some realize. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every five falling accidents results in a victim sustaining serious injuries. Additionally, approximately 800,000 patients in the United States are hospitalized each year for injuries resulting from falling accidents.
Slip and falls sometimes occur when property owners or managers are negligent. To a reasonable degree, property owner has a legal obligation to keep their properties free of hazards that can cause slip and fall accidents. You could potentially be harmed one day if a property owner neglects this duty.
Hopefully, this will never happen to you. If it does, though, you should know you may be able to recover financial compensation for your medical bills and related losses by filing a claim to collect from the property owner’s insurance.
Your odds of recovering the full amount of compensation you deserve will be greater if you take certain critical steps in the immediate aftermath of your accident. They include the following:
Report the accident to the property owner or manager. If your accident occurred at a business or other such location, you may be able to file an official report. Do so if this is an option.
Ask the property owner not to delete or destroy any footage of the accident that may have been captured via security cameras. You may even want to put this request in writing so you have documentation of it.
You likely have a camera with you at all times now in the form of a smartphone. Use it to take pictures of the scene of the accident, focusing on any conditions which caused your slip and fall.
Get the names and contact information of anyone who may have seen your accident occur. Their testimony can be useful if an insurance company tries to argue that you were injured as a result of your own negligence.
This is among the most important steps you can take right now. Even if you don’t think you have sustained major injuries, you must see a doctor right away after taking all the above steps.
A slip and fall can cause injuries that are not immediately noticeable. If you’ve been injured without realizing it, receiving proper care early will play a significant role in your recovery. It will also help you secure financial compensation by demonstrating there is a link between your accident and your injuries.
Proving to an insurance company that you are owed financial compensation after a slip and fall accident can require conducting an investigation, coordinating with witnesses, and negotiating for a fair settlement.
These are not tasks you need to handle on your own. Your chances of recovering compensation will be greater if you hire a lawyer to handle these tasks on your behalf.
At Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., our Philadelphia slip and fall attorneys are on hand to help you pursue an appropriate settlement. Learn more about how we can assist you by contacting us online or calling us at 215-929-7216.