slip and fall accidents media

Do you need a slip and fall lawyer?

Property owners have an obligation to maintain a safe environment for invited guests, whether they own businesses or private properties. If they neglect to maintain a safe environment and their neglect directly causes an injury, they might be legally responsible for the victim’s injuries and other losses. Imagine you visit a restaurant, and the host seats you on a wooden patio in an advanced state of disrepair. During your meal, the patio collapses, and the resulting fall causes you to sustain significant injuries. Because the restaurant failed to maintain a safe environment (as well as inform you of the existing hazard), it would likely be found liable for your injuries. 

Understanding Compensation in Slip and Fall Cases

If you retain the services of a slip and fall lawyer in Clayton and they’re able to prove liability, you might collect compensation in the form of damages intended to cover losses like the following:

  • Medical Expenses: You can seek damages for both immediate medical treatment and ongoing care and accommodation necessitated by the injury
  • Lost Wages: Compensations for lost wages can reflect pay lost while you’re recovering and loss of future earnings in the event of permanent disability from the incident
  • Pain and Suffering: You might also receive compensation if you dealt with severe physical and emotional pain as a result of the accident

Keep in mind that every case is different — the fact that you slipped and fell on someone else’s property doesn’t mean you’ll automatically have a legal case. A slip and fall attorney in Clayton will review the circumstances of your accident and let you know whether they think you have a viable case.

What steps should you take after a slip and fall?

If you want to improve your chances of recovering the compensation you need for a slip and fall, you should know what to do immediately after the accident. Here are some of the most important steps to take.

Seek immediate medical care

Whenever you’re injured in an accident of any kind, the first thing you should do is seek medical care. There are two key reasons to do so. The first and most important is to protect your health. Injury symptoms don’t always manifest right away, so you should always see a doctor. If you have a serious injury that goes undetected, you could develop severe or even life-threatening symptoms later on. The second reason is to preserve your chances of receiving a settlement. If you’re pursuing a personal injury case but didn’t immediately seek medical care, the defendant’s legal team might be able to successfully argue that you weren’t hurt bad enough to see a doctor.

Gather evidence to support your claim

It might not always be possible to collect evidence yourself, depending on the nature and extent of your injuries. However, if you’re capable, try to gather as much useful evidence as you can. Photos of the accident scene and the hazard that caused your injuries are especially important.
You should also make an effort to get a copy of any police or incident reports and hold on to records like medical exam results and bills. The more of these kinds of documents you have, the easier it will be for your lawyer to prove your case.

Reach out to a personal injury lawyer

Once a physician has examined you, your next step should be to connect with a qualified personal injury lawyer. It’s critical to do this before talking to the at-fault party’s insurance company. Most insurers will do everything they can to avoid paying out claims, and their representatives will often try to get you to admit fault. As such, anything you say while corresponding with the insurance company could be used against you. If you allow your lawyer to deal directly with the insurance company, your claim is more likely to be successful. Personal injury lawyers have experience dealing with insurance companies and can often negotiate a better settlement. Reaching out to a lawyer is also important for preserving evidence. For example, if your accident happened at a business, there will probably be security camera footage. Your lawyer can review and archive key evidence like this before it becomes difficult (or impossible) to find.

Work with a slip and fall lawyer in Clayton, GA

If you’ve sustained a life-altering injury due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve fair and adequate compensation. The Pendergrass Law Firm is determined to help you recover that compensation. If you think you might have a viable case, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us online or schedule a visit to our Clayton office at 41 S Main St today to schedule a free consultation with a slip and fall attorney in Clayton.

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