If you’ve been injured in a slip, trip, or fall accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, or other damages. You should hire a slip and fall attorney to represent you as soon as you can and there are some important things that you should know. Continue reading to review 10 essential tips to help make sure your case is successful.
Thinking About Filing a Slip and Fall Accident Claim?
Read Through These Tips First:
1. Document the Accident – Take pictures and video (if possible) of the hazard that caused your fall, as well as any injuries you sustained and any medical treatments you’ve received. This information may be needed to prove that you were indeed injured in a slip and fall accident.
2. Get Medical Treatment Immediately – It is important to seek medical treatment right away after an injury so that it can be documented in your medical records. Once your claim is filed, these records will be used to help determine the amount of compensation you deserve for your injuries and the defendant’s insurance company will want to review those records.
3. Request Property Owner Preserve Evidence – Make sure to request as soon as you can, in writing if possible and at the time of your fall if possible, that the property owner document the date, time and place of your fall and the names and addresses of any witnesses. Also request that they retain any and all video surveillance of the area of your fall showing what made you fall and how the danger that made you fall got there and how long it had been there prior to your fall.
4. Notify the Property Owner – If your slip and fall accident occurred on someone else’s property, it is important to notify the owner or manager of that property as soon as possible so they can make a record of the incident and possibly attempt to fix the hazard that caused your injury so nobody else gets hurt.
5. Preserve Evidence – Don’t discard any clothing or items involved in the accident because they may contain evidence that could help prove liability in court. Also, document anything unusual about the conditions of the area where you were injured such as spills or broken stairs.
6. Speak With Witnesses – Witnesses at an accident scene are invaluable when it comes to proving fault in court. Make sure to get their contact information in case you need to speak with them later on.
7. Contact a Slip and Fall Attorney – It is always best to consult an experienced Indianapolis slip and fall lawyer before filing a claim or taking any legal action against the property owner and their insurance carrier. A slip and fall personal injury attorney will be able to review your case and advise you of your legal rights and options for seeking compensation.
8. Understand the Statute of Limitations – Each state has its own statute of limitations governing how long after an injury you have to file a claim. Make sure that you are aware of this time period because if you miss it, your right to seek compensation could be lost forever. In Indiana, you have 2 years from the date of the accident to file a slip and fall claim in most cases, excluding those involving governmental entities.
9. Gather Financial Documents – Make sure to have all medical records, medical bills and other financial documents related to your accident claim on hand before filing a claim with an insurance company or going to court. This will help you prove the amount of compensation that you are entitled to.
10. Negotiate a Settlement – If the property owner’s insurance company offers you a settlement, make sure to get legal advice from your slip and fall attorney before accepting it as it may not be sufficient enough to cover all of your damages. Your attorney can help negotiate a more favorable settlement if necessary and can advise you on what the ramifications of a settlement would be.
Conclusion
These 10 tips should give you an idea of what is involved in filing a slip and fall accident claim. Remember that it is important to act quickly after an accident and seek legal advice from a qualified slip and fall attorney who can help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Having this information clearly documented will make it easier for both your lawyer and the court and jury to understand the full extent of your damages. This type of evidence can also be used to help prove the damage amount in court or during settlement negotiations. Keeping track of all related expenses such as medical bills and lost wages will also be beneficial for your case.
Are you ready to learn more about your rights and eligibility as a personal injury victim or defendant? Contact Craven, Hoover & Blazek, P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a no-fee personal injury consultation with a trusted and professional slip and fall lawyer in Indianapolis, today. We represent clients all throughout the state, even if you are an Indiana resident who was injured in another state, or an out-of-town visitor injured in Indiana.
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