Slip and fall accidents are common in restaurants, grocery stores, and other places where food or liquid fall onto the floor. When a person slips and falls on someone else’s property, the accident victim might be able to pursue a claim against the property owner’s insurance company.
When a person slips and falls on premises belonging to someone else, he or she could sustain very serious injuries which leave him/her debilitated and in need of medical treatment. All of this medical treatment can be costly, and medical bills can pile up quickly – especially in the case of broken bones and other serious injuries.
If you or a person you care about has been injured in a slip and fall accident they took place in Orange County, there are certain steps that you should take. You should also speak with a knowledgeable OC slip and fall attorney right away. Your lawyer will be able to determine if you have a valid legal claim, and if so, your attorney could help you pursue the compensation that you need from the insurance company.
Notify the Property Owner of the Incident
If you have suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident that occurred on someone else’s property, the first thing that you should do is to notify the property owner or the property owner’s representative. For example, if you slipped and fell in a restaurant or store, you should promptly notify the store/restaurant manager about the incident. This individual, in turn, could place the insurance company on notice of a potential claim. In addition, you should complete an incident report that describes how the incident occurred, how you fell, and the injuries you suffered.
If the at-fault person or entity’s insurance company requests that you make a recorded statement, you should never do so unless you have a knowledgeable Orange County slip and fall injury attorney present with you (or on the phone) while you give the statement.
Take Photographs
If you can do so after the slip and fall incident, you should take photographs of the incident scene where you fell. Specifically, you should photograph any spills that were present on the floor, as well as warning placards that might have been in the vicinity. Finally, you should take photographs of any injuries that you suffered in the slip and fall accident.
Seek Medical Treatment
Slip and falls can result in very serious injuries, including traumatic head injuries, back injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and soft tissue injuries, to name just a few. After the slip and fall accident, the fall victim might need to go to a hospital emergency room and seek medical treatment there. In addition, the accident victim may have to undergo one or more medical procedures, such as surgery in the case of a hip fracture. Likewise, the fall victim might need to participate in physical therapy to recover from his or her injuries.
All this medical treatment can be costly, and the fall victim may also need to miss time from work following the accident.
The sooner that you seek medical treatment after your accident, the better off you will be. Waiting too long to seek medical treatment can be a red flag for the insurance company. Specifically, insurance company adjusters often think that delayed medical treatment translates into a lack of injury. The same is true where there are long gaps in a fall victim’s medical treatment. Therefore, you should attend all medical and physical therapy appointments and refrain from discharging yourself from treatment.
Call an Experienced Orange County Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer
Lastly, if you have been injured in a Orange County slip and fall, it is essential that you speak with a knowledgeable and experienced attorney as soon as possible about the incident.
Your attorney will be able to review the facts and circumstances of your fall and determine if you are eligible to file a claim against the property owner’s insurance company. If you are, your attorney can assist you throughout the claims-filing process and can negotiate with the insurance company adjuster to try and resolve your case by way of a settlement. If the insurance company refuses to settle your case favorably, your attorney could file a lawsuit in the Orange County state court system and pursue compensation through litigation on your behalf.
