Each type of personal injury claim has its own complication. Let’s start off by talking about why slip and fall accidents are, in their own way, complicated. Depending on what specifically caused the slip and fall accident, the evidence may be easier or harder to cover up and this is an important component to keep in mind.If the surface where the accident occurred was slippery because of a spill or dirt, the property owner will be able to clean that up quickly. If the accident occurred because of an uneven surface, then it may be harder for the responsible party to cover it up. However, they may still manage to get rid of the evidence if they’re quick enough.So, what do you do about this? Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s avoid the confusion and take this step by step. If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, keep reading to find out how you should handle it!
If it happened at a supermarket or other store
Something spilled at the supermarket and the grocery store staff weren’t aware of it or didn’t care to clean it up on time – and you slipped! There are several steps to follow to ensure that you have a case:
- Contact the authorities – and this includes getting medical treatment: Whether you think the injury was small or not, make sure the authorities are informed of the accident.
- Report the accident to the supervisor: inform the staff or, even better, the supervisor about what happened. It is important that they acknowledge the slip and fall accident and put the details in paper.
- Gather evidence: most likely, you will need to take photos or film of the scene of the accident. If you don’t have evidence that shows the condition of the surface that caused your injuries, the store could deny the incident and it will become a matter of figuring out who told the truth.
- Just say the necessary: after reporting the accident to the manager or supervisor, keep the details to yourself. Especially while you may still be agitated or in pain because of the slip and fall, you need to limit how much you communicate to anyone.
If it happened on the sidewalk
Many slip and fall victims got injured on the sidewalk. Whether it was slippery, uneven, or dirty surface, please know that you were not at fault. Did you know that sidewalks, while they do not belong to the property owner, are a responsibility of the property owner? This means that if the property owner didn’t maintain the sidewalk in good conditions and you got injured there, they will be the responsible party of your slip and fall accident. The steps to take aren’t that different:
- Call the police: their report will be a piece of valuable evidence in your case. therefore, making sure they are in the scene as soon as possible is very important for your slip and fall accident claim. And remember – get that medical check up even if you think you’re not badly injured!
- Report the accident to the property owner: let them know what has occurred without giving too much details away.
- Take pictures: gather evidence in any possible form. Being able to show that there was negligence involved will only give you an advantage when filing your claim.
All these cases have one thing in common: you need to get slip and fall experts to help you with your claim. Slip and fall cases should always be handled with expertise and experience. Don’t allow the responsible party to convince you that it was your fault or that the accident shouldn’t be reported. It is in your best interest to report it! At Accident Help Jacksonville we have the team of experts to help you with your slip and fall, or other personal injury, claim. Call us today so that we can ensure that your rights are being respected!
