Recovering Damages For Slip and Fall Accidents

 Posted on January 05, 2017 in Personal Injury

Next to car accidents, the most common type of injury mishap is a slip and fall. Whether you are the victim, or just a home or business owner concerned about potential liability, it is important to know when a property owner can be liable. Here are some legal rules as well as steps to take in the event you are hurt in a slip and fall accident.

Many people think that just because they are hurt in a slip and fall accident, the property owner is automatically liable. This is not always true. To be liable, a property owner must have known (or should have known) about the dangerous condition and failed to take steps to prevent injuries.

Suppose you slip on a wet spot in a market. Whether you can recover damages depends on how long the floor was wet and what employees knew and did. If the floor was wet for a while and employees knew about it but did nothing, you'll likely recover damages. But if the floor became wet just before you slipped, recovering damages may be harder.

• How to Protect Yourself. If you get hurt in a slip and fall accident, there are several things you should do to protect your rights and help make sure you can recover as much as you are entitled to under the law. They include: make written notes on the accident; get names, addresses and phone numbers of witnesses; and save any evidence, such as whatever caused the fall.

Also, do not sign anything or give any statements before talking with your lawyer. When a customer is hurt in a slip and fall accident, store employees often try to get statements to use against them later. You are not required to say anything to the other side, and you should not before you consult your lawyer.

If you intend to make a claim, seek legal help promptly. You will want to pursue your claim while the facts are fresh in your mind and the minds of witnesses. Also, there are time limits for making claims which, if not followed, can result in losing your claim.