A Quick Guide to Slip and Fall Injury Claims
by
David Zevan on Mar. 23, 2015
Accident & Injury Accident & Injury Slip & Fall Accident Accident & Injury Personal Injury
Summary: Every year, over 1 million emergency room visits are the result of slip and fall accidents. If you have been injured because of another person's negligence, be aware of the steps you need to take to protect your legal rights.
What steps should you take to protect a potential slip and fall injury claim?
Every year, over 1 million emergency room visits are the result of slip and fall accidents. If you have been injured because of another person's negligence, be aware of the steps you need to take to protect your legal rights.
Notify the Owner of the Premises About the Accident
If you are injured in a slip and fall accident, report the incident to the owner of the premises or another responsible person connected with the premises. If the accident occurred on a commercial property, report the accident to the highest ranking official. It is important that the accident is reported on the same day, or as soon as possible, because any delay can seriously jeopardize the claim. If required, send a formal notification letter to the premise's owner.
Record the Details of the Eye Witnesses
Witnesses can be of great help in any personal injury lawsuit. If there were any witnesses to your slip and fall accident, gather their names and contact details.
Take Photographs
If you are not seriously injured and you have a camera or a phone click, take as many pictures of the accident site as you can. Take pictures from all possible angles. Take photographs as soon as possible after the accident before someone alters the scene of the accident.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
If you have been injured, go to the emergency room immediately for medical care. If you do not get medical treatment for your injuries, the insurer may assume that you suffered no injury.
Clearly Explain the Cause of Your Injury to the Health Care Provider
It is extremely important that your initial medical records are consistent with your claims in the courtroom. For example, if you were injured because of a broken staircase, the doctor's report will detail that you hurt your back when you fell from a broken staircase.
Complete the Accident Report
Commercial premise's owners often ask the injured person to fill out an accident report. You are not legally bound to fill out these reports, and you can refuse to do so if you are not feeling too well or are unsure of what to write. If you choose to fill it out, make sure you do so accurately and explain clearly how you were hurt.
Do Not Give a Tape Recorded Statement
After you have reported the injury, there are chances that the insurance company will contact you and request a tape recorded statement describing the slip and fall accident and your injuries. Do not provide any tape recorded statement until you have spoken with your Missouri personal injury attorney.
Do Not Miss Scheduled Medical Appointments
If you miss your medical appointments without a valid reason, then the insurance company may assume that your injuries are not serious enough; this would undermine your personal injury claim badly.
Slip and fall accident claims can be quite tricky. Before you provide any statement or sign a settlement offer, make sure you speak to a personal injury attorney. Call Zevan and Davidson Law Firm, LLC at (314) 588-7200.