If you were injured in a slip and fall accident at someone’s property or a business, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering from the negligent property owner. However, you can weaken your claim and jeopardize your recovery if you fail to take the right actions and make mistakes after your fall. Here are common errors you need to avoid making.
Not Getting Prompt Medical Care
Even if you do not believe you were hurt, you should be examined by a doctor within 72 hours of your slip and fall accident. If you do not take this important step, a hidden injury could become worse—maybe even life-threatening. In addition, you make it easier for the insurance company to argue that your injury was caused by another incident or is not that serious.
Not Notifying the Owner
You should notify the property owner or business of your slip and fall accident immediately after it happens and file an accident report. You should write up your own report if the owner does not have one for you to complete.
If you do not do this, you will not have given the property owner or business notice of your fall and potential claim. In addition, they could dispute that you even had a slip and fall accident on their property.
Not Taking Pictures
You could lose vital evidence that can help you prove the owner’s negligence if you fail to take pictures of the accident scene, your injuries, and your clothing right away. The property owner or business could clean up or repair the condition that caused your fall and try to claim it did not exist or was not that dangerous.
Not Getting Witness Information
If there were witnesses to your slip and fall accident, you should get their contact information. They could support your claim that a hazardous condition caused your fall and may have information on how long the problem existed. You do not want to lose this crucial evidence that can help you win your case.
Giving a Recorded Statement
A recorded statement is a question and answer session between you and the insurance adjuster. Even if you did nothing to cause your fall, you could say something that the insurance company can use against you to deny your claim or try to force you to accept less compensation than you deserve in your settlement.
Not Hiring a Lawyer
You could make these and other costly errors if you do not retain an experienced premises liability accident attorney as soon as possible. In addition, slip and fall accident claims are challenging to prove. It can be difficult to accurately value your claim or obtain a fair settlement without the help of a lawyer.
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident in the Virginia Beach or Norfolk area, our skilled premises liability attorneys are here to fight for your rights. To learn more about how we can assist you, fill out our online form or call our office to schedule your free case evaluation today.
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