How Do I Protect My Rights After a Slip-And-Fall Accident?
While the moments, days, and weeks after a slip-and-fall accident can be incredibly stressful and overwhelming, your actions can significantly impact your safety and claim for compensation. A few steps to protect your rights include the following:
Seek Medical Attention
Seeking immediate medical treatment is critical to your health and can affect your claim’s success. Your medical records can serve as vital evidence and help establish the cause of the accident and the harm you have suffered.
Document Everything
Taking photos of the accident scene, your injuries, and even the shoes you were wearing can all add credibility to your claim. It can also be helpful to record your physical and emotional symptoms in a pain journal to provide evidence of your losses.
Be Cautious When Talking to the Insurance Adjuster
Unfortunately, most insurance adjusters do not have your best interests in mind. Avoid admitting fault or sharing unnecessary details that they can use against you to deny or devalue your claim.
Avoid Posting on Social Media
The insurance company and legal team may even monitor your social media to claim you are not seriously injured. After your accident, avoid posting on social media and set your accounts to private.
Speak to a Skilled Attorney
The aftermath of a slip-and-fall accident can be daunting, but you do not have to pursue justice alone. An experienced attorney can use their knowledge and skills to fight for you. At Feller & Wendt, we can handle every detail of your claim, from investigation to negotiation to litigation if necessary.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Slip-And-Fall Accident?
Depending on your unique situation, there may be several possible liable parties, including the following:
- Property owners
- Landlords
- Commercial tenants are responsible for maintaining the property
- Property management companies
- Government entities
Depending on the unique circumstances surrounding your case, more than one party may be liable for your injuries. Our attorneys meticulously review your case to uncover each responsible party and fight to hold them fully responsible for your injuries and other losses.
Can I Collect Compensation for My Slip-And-Fall Accident?
Slip-and-fall accidents often cause victims to suffer significant emotional, financial, and physical burdens. If you were injured in a slip-and-fall accident, you deserve compensation for the full extent of the losses you have endured. Some damages our skilled attorneys can help you pursue include the following:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and earning potential
- Loss of enjoyment in life
- Significant disfigurement or disability
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
Our attorneys understand that no two slip-and-fall accidents impact victims the same and will personalize our approach as we fight for compensation for the total scope of your losses.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Slip-And-Fall Accident?
All personal injury claims, including slip-and-fall claims, must prove negligence to be successful. Your attorney will work to build a case that establishes the following elements:
- The defendant owed you a legal duty of care to keep their premises safely maintained
- The defendant breached the duty of care by behaving negligently
- The defendant’s negligence directly caused your slip-and-fall accident
- Your accident resulted in your injuries and other economic and non-economic losses
At Feller & Wendt, our attorneys thoroughly investigate every case to determine the cause of your accident and how negligence contributed to your injuries.
How Long Do I Have to File a Slip-And-Fall Accident Claim?
All states have a legal time limit called the statute of limitations for filing slip-and-fall accident claims. In Arizona and Idaho, victims have two years from the accident date to pursue compensation. However, in Utah, victims have four years from the accident date to file their claims. It is important to note that the statute of limitations may be shorter in specific scenarios, including if you are filing a claim against a government agency.
While two or four years may seem like plenty of time to seek justice, contacting an attorney as soon as possible is in your best interest. Essential evidence can be destroyed or damaged over time, and key witnesses may forget details about your accident. When you partner with a seasoned attorney at Feller & Wendt, we will begin work on your case immediately to ensure you meet these critical legal deadlines.
