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What to Do If You Fall on a Friend’s Property
January 6th, 2023
Most of the time, tripping over something doesn't cause a huge problem. Hopefully, you haven't hurt yourself, and you can walk it off and attempt to ignore the embarrassment. However, if you're here, that's most likely not what happened to you. You could file a slip-and-fall claim if you were significantly hurt due to someone else's carelessness.
These slips and falls might result in serious injuries that disrupt your daily life. At Douglas D. Terry & Associates, we want you to know that we are here for you.
Continue reading to know more about your rights following a slip-and-fall incident and how personal injury claims work.
Where Do Slip-and-Fall Claims Start?
A slip-and-fall claim is a personal injury claim you can bring after injury due to a property owner's carelessness. These kinds of injuries are unfortunately prevalent.
Why Do Slip-and-Fall Accidents Occur?
A slip-and-fall accident occurs when there is a hazardous condition on a property's sidewalk, parking lot, floor, or other pathways.
Every year, slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall incidents injure many people in Utah. The following are everyday causes of slip-and-fall injuries:
- Wet, slick flooring
- Tiles with shattered glass
- Slanted sidewalks
- Deteriorating walkways and parking lots
- Broken stairs and guardrails
- Failure to use a wet floor sign to warn
- Poor lighting
- Ice and snowy paths
Is My Injury Claim Valid?
A successful injury claim is one that can be proven in court.
Slip-and-fall lawsuits are worth seeking if you can demonstrate that the defendant was careless and is liable for your damages.
What Should I Do if I Slip and Fall?
When you are in an accident, even if you slip and fall at a friend’s house, you must first ensure that you're okay.
If you are hurt, you should get medical assistance right away.
Hang on to all medical bills and paperwork to ensure that your damages are properly recorded.
If your injury occurred at a retail shop or other location where workers or management is present, fill out an incident report.
In your slip-and-fall lawsuit, incident reports are crucial. They are proof of your harm and often impose an obligation on workers, supervisors, or managers to investigate your accident.
On the accident report, request in writing that any evidence related to your injury, including security cam footage, be preserved.
Obtain witnesses' names and phone numbers to your slip-and-fall mishap. Witness testimony can considerably strengthen your case, particularly if the landowner denies accountability for your injuries.
You should then consult with a lawyer before speaking with anybody else.
In the ensuing days and weeks, you might be approached by an insurance company on behalf of the business owner or property. They may request that you provide a recorded statement.
We do not advise agreeing to make a statement to an adversarial insurance company without first consulting with an attorney.
Our attorneys can advise you on the ramifications of making such a statement on your future potential to claim damages.
Douglas D. Terry & Associates have extensive experience with slip-and-fall cases. If you give us your case, we will do everything possible to maximize your settlement or jury value.
What Are the Most Common Injuries in Slip-and-Fall Accidents?
Slip-and-fall accidents are typical accidents that result in minor, temporary, severe, and permanent injuries.
The following are some examples of injuries that may result from a slip-and-fall accident:
Even though soft tissue injuries might not need intrusive medical treatment such as surgery, the price of care to properly treat your injuries can rapidly add up.
At Douglas D. Terry & Associates, we have extensive experience in assisting slip-and-fall clients in obtaining the funds they need to heal from even minor injuries.
How Do Insurers Try to Avoid Paying for Slip-and-Fall Injuries?
Keep in mind that insurers are not on your side.
Insurance adjusters aim to defend the insurance company's bottom line.
The insurer for the opposing party wants to spend as little as possible on an insurance claim, including slip-and-fall claims. An insurance adjuster may target unrepresented injury victims to achieve this purpose.
They may accomplish this by requesting a statement from you before you are represented by a lawyer, expecting to obtain significant confessions from you on the record.
Insurers and adjusters understand that the typical injury victim is unaware of their rights after an accident. Unrepresented personal injury victims are vulnerable as a result of this understanding.
Insurers also try to avoid paying for slip-and-fall accidents by claiming that the insured was either uninformed of the hazardous situation on the property or didn't have enough time to fix the dangerous condition or inform invitees about the hazardous condition.
Furthermore, insurance companies often contest slip-and-fall accidents on the basis of causation, arguing that the accident didn't truly cause the injured party's injuries.
What Can an Attorney Do for My Personal Injury Case?
It can be difficult to know what you should do following a slip-and-fall accident, but having the right lawyer on your side can simplify things.
Douglas D. Terry & Associates helps injured victims, and we have extensive expertise in resolving slip-and-fall situations.
Our personal injury lawyers can assist you in claiming compensation for slip and fall injuries. The following are some ways an injury lawyer may help you.
- Obtaining Evidence
- Making Demands
- Representing You in Court
As an accident victim, you can defend yourself in court before a jury or judge, but it is always a good idea to have an experienced lawyer on your side on your trial date.
You can be sure that the insurance company you will battle has a team of defense attorneys dedicated to securing the best outcomes for their clients.
Contact Douglas D. Terry & Associates to find out how to claim compensation for a personal injury claim and have a professional team fighting for your best interests.
