What To Do If You Fall In A Store
What To Do If You Fall In A Store What to do if you fall in a Store
Imagine you are on a regular grocery store run and suddenly you slip and fall. It can be a frightening experience. It’s important to remember to remain calm as reactions play an important role in how you proceed. If you fall in a store, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself and your rights.
Seek Medical Attention
The first step after you fall in a store should be to check and make sure you are not in pain. Don’t try and rush through the pain and hope it will go away. You should always seek appropriate medical attention especially if you start to experience pain afterwards. If the pain increases after the fall, you should seek medical attention right away.
It is essential to have any injuries checked both immediately and in the future in the event pain and complications arise from the incident. A medical professional will be able to determine the extent of the damage caused due to the slip and fall and will be able to note the details in your medical records in case they are needed later to prove your damages.
Gather Evidence
If you can, you should take pictures of the area from which you fell. This will help to collect evidence and show that the business or the property had a liability to its patrons. Collect any witnesses who were present at the time of the fall, obtain their contact information and a brief statement from them about any observations. Document anything that might have caused the slip and fall, such as a slippery floor, defective mats, parts of objects scattered around, improper lighting, etc.
It can also be beneficial to take pictures of the adjacent area and document the place that could have presented the potential hazard in the store. This is because often the hazard may have been cleared away by the caretaker shortly after the fall which makes it impossible to identify the dangers associated with the spot.
Report the Incident
To preserve your claim, you should always bring the incident to the attention of the relevant store. You should inform the store manager or supervisor immediately, even if you don’t feel hurt. The notification should involve a written document describing the incident, time, date, and location of the slip and fall.
Ensure that you document the exact address of store, its contact information, and its owner. If there are any witnesses present, ask them to submit their contact information to the supervisor.
Find a Slip and Fall Lawyer
Regardless of the extent of your injuries, you should always explore the possibility of filing a claim by speaking to a slip and fall lawyer. Depending on the severity of your injuries, medical bills for examination or treatments can add up quickly and you may wish to be compensated for them. You should consult an experienced slip and fall lawyer and discuss the incident, explain the damages, and determine if a premises liability claim should be filed.
Your lawyer will be able to explain the process of litigation and what to expect. He or she will also be able to advise you on the strength of your claim and the likelihood of success. In cases where a lawsuit is filed, your lawyer will be able to determine the amount of damages that can be sought.
Beware of Social Media
It is essential to be mindful that your case can be compromised by any comments on social media concerning your injury. It is important to manage your privacy settings and not post about the case, or about your feelings surrounding the incident. It is also a good idea to stay off social media until the case is settled, especially if your opponent fishes for any statement you made on social media which can be used to weaken your settlement.
Preserve Your Evidence
You should also maintain all of the evidence collected from the slip and fall incident. This includes the medical documents sent and received, photos taken of the store, and any other supporting documents related to the incident.
Furthermore, you should keep detailed records of your state of injury as well as a journal of how your injuries affected daily lives. Document any treatments and therapies you had to undergo due to the slip and fall incident along with the associated expenses.
Be Timely with Settlement
It is essential to note that there is a statute of limitations for every fall claims case. Usually, the time limit is two years from the date of the slip and fall incident. Once the two-year period has elapsed your case cannot be heard. After that period, time barred claims are highly unlikely to be successful in the court of law. Therefore, it is essential to plan out a settlement as soon as possible after the fall.
It is also important to remember that it is never recommended to accept any settlement before consulting with your lawyer. Businesses and their own lawyers will try to influence you to settle for a low and inadequate amount of settlement, and it is extremely important to take sound financial and legal advice before deciding.
Conclusion
Falling in a store is traumatic and requires caution. However, being aware of the steps discussed in this blog post will help you stay prepared in such a situation. It is essential to be prepared, diligent, and resourceful to protect your legal rights after you fall in a store.
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