People are often quick to dismiss the severity of a slip and fall accident. The truth is, these accidents are far more dangerous than most people believe, and victims deserve justice and fair compensation.
If you are injured in a slip and fall accident, do not disregard your injuries. Call 911 if you cannot safely get up on your own or have someone drive you to the emergency room. If possible, take lots of pictures of the accident scene to review with an attorney. Your damages may be worth more than you first think. They may include medical costs, lost income if you cannot work, pain and suffering, and possibly more.
Call our slip and fall attorneys at The Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940 for a free, confidential legal evaluation.
What Should You Do After Being Injured in a Slip and Fall Accident?
After a slip and fall accident, call for help and try to document the scene. If you are so badly hurt that you cannot safely stand up on your own, you may need to call 911 and get an ambulance. Otherwise, have someone drive you to the emergency room right away.
If you have a camera, take photos of the accident scene. If the accident occurred on private property, we might not be able to return to investigate without the property owner’s consent. Your photos may help us understand what dangerous conditions existed on the property at the time of the accident.
Claiming Medical Bills in a Brookhaven Slip and Fall Case
Your medical bills will likely be a major factor in your damages. Whether you are severely injured and require extensive treatment, or you only require one trip to the emergency room, you deserve to be compensated for your medical costs.
If your injuries require long-term care (e.g., physical therapy), our slip and fall attorneys can calculate your expected future medical costs and add them to your claim.
Damages for Pain and Suffering After a Slip and Fall Accident
Not all damages represent monetary costs alone. Your pain and suffering, both physical and mental, also deserve fair compensation. Many slip and fall accident victims report great physical pain as well as mental distress and humiliation because of the accident. Although these experiences may be challenging to evaluate, we must do so.
How a Slip and Fall Accident Can Affect Your Ability to Work
You may also be entitled to damages related to lost income if your injuries prevent you from working. Slip and fall accidents often involve injuries to the hands, arms, and legs. Such injuries can make it difficult or impossible to continue working, and you may lose income. The longer you cannot work, the greater your claim for damages should be.
Who Should You Sue for Damages After a Slip and Fall Accident?
People often blame victims for slip and fall accidents, usually citing their own clumsiness. However, if your fall happened because of unsafe conditions on the property, the property owner may be held liable for your damages.
Not only that, but you can sue a business for a slip and fall accident if the accident happens on business premises. For example, slipping on a wet floor in a grocery store with no warning sign may be grounds for a lawsuit against the store if you are hurt.
Can You Sue a Tenant or Renter for Slip and Fall Injuries?
Yes. Premises liability laws also extend to tenants who might not own the property. For example, if you are visiting someone who lives in a rented apartment and you slip and fall because they failed to warn you that the floor was wet, you may sue them for damages.
However, in some cases, the tenant may try to shift blame to the landlord. For example, if you slipped and fell in the lobby of an apartment building, tenants are likely not responsible, and we should consider including the landlord in the lawsuit.
How to Gather Evidence of a Slip and Fall Accident in Brookhaven
Evidence of a slip and fall accident can be tricky to obtain, especially if it is connected to someone else’s private property. Even so, our legal team can help investigate.
Take Photos
Take as many photos of the accident scene as possible. As mentioned earlier, these may be the only evidence we have of the accident scene as it was at the time of the incident.
Gather Security Camera Videos
Depending on where your accident occurred, security cameras may have captured the scene. This is especially common in cases involving accidents in a store or business. Footage from these cameras may be some of the strongest evidence we can get.
Identify Witnesses
If other people are nearby when your slip and fall, try to get their names and contact information. This can help us find them later and interview them about what they saw. Those with the most helpful information may testify as witnesses.
Gather Medical Records
Details about your injuries are crucial, and we likely need copies of your medical records related to your slip and fall injuries. We should request these copies as soon as possible, as it may take time for a hospital to gather all the necessary records.
What if the Defendant Controls Evidence You Need in a Slip and Fall Case?
We may need evidence that the defendant controls, such as business records related to property maintenance. We may obtain this evidence during the discovery phase, when each side must exchange relevant evidence.
If the defendant refuses to produce evidence we believe is relevant to the case, we can ask the court to compel production. If the defendant still refuses, they may face serious sanctions.
Can the Defendant Clean up a Slip and Fall Accident Scene After You Leave?
Yes. Not only can the defendant clean up the accident scene, but this cannot be held against them either. Defendants may repair known hazards on their property to prevent further accidents or injuries.
This also means that it is crucial to document the accident scene immediately if you can. Otherwise, important evidence may be lost when the defendant cleans up the scene.
Can You Sue for a Slip and Fall Accident if Your Injuries Are Not Severe?
Yes. Injuries do not have to be severe for victims to file injury lawsuits. Even if your injuries are expected to recover fully, you can still sue for medical costs, pain, suffering, and any other damages you may have incurred.
Should You Accept a Settlement for a Slip and Fall Accident?
A settlement offer may be on the table, but you should always discuss these with your lawyer before accepting or rejecting them. While settlements can be tempting, they often do not account for the full extent of your damages. To recover the full range of your damages, we can fight for them in a trial.
Contact Our Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys in Brookhaven to Discuss Your Claims
Call our slip and fall attorneys at The Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940 for a free, confidential legal evaluation.
