Slipping and falling in a store is a frightening experience that can leave you with serious injuries and medical bills. You may feel embarrassed but it happens every day because of the carelessness and negligence of store owners.
I have represented thousands of victims of slip-and-fall accidents, and I understand the importance of following the correct steps. We’ll discuss what to do if you fall and break your leg in a shop. The focus will be on taking photos and filing a report.
These steps are essential to building a solid personal injury claim that will get you the compensation you need.
Always First Ensure Your Safety and Seek Medical Attention
After a slip-and-fall incident, the first and most crucial step is to ensure that you are safe. If you need immediate medical care, assess your injuries. Call an ambulance, if necessary, and ask for assistance from the person closest to you.
Prioritizing your health is always important. Keep records of your medical treatment and document all injuries. This will prove vital for your personal injury case.
Report The Store
It is important to inform the staff or management of the store about the incident as soon as you are safe. You should ask to speak with the manager or supervisor about what happened.
Include the date, the time and the location of the accident, as well any contributing factors such as a slippery floor or an object that could be hazardous in your path. You can request a copy of this report to keep for your own records.
Reporting the incident to the store is important for many reasons. It creates a record of the event, which will help to establish liability in the future. It can be difficult to prove the event occurred or that the retailer was aware of a hazardous condition without a report.
Reporting the incident also ensures the store is aware of it and can take immediate measures to prevent future accidents.
Take Pictures and Gather Evidence
It is important to collect evidence on the spot, in addition to filing a police report. Take clear and detailed photos of the area you fell on using your smartphone or other camera.
Take pictures of any hazardous conditions, including a wet surface, an unexpected obstacle, an uneven surface or other factors. These images will be crucial to proving that the store failed to maintain a safe environment.
It is important to take pictures because they provide visual proof of the dangerous condition that led to your fall. The store may repair or clean the area over time, making it harder to prove the hazardous condition.
You can strengthen your case by taking photos immediately after an incident. Photographs can also help experts such as accident reconstruction specialists or engineers analyze the scene to provide expert opinions about liability.
Obtain the Contact Details of Anyone Who Saw the Accident
Or the conditions that led to the accident. Even a later bystander could speak about the circumstances following the accident. It will enhance the credibility of your claim.
Consult With Tenina Law
It is best to consult a premises liability lawyer after a slip-and-fall incident in a store. Alla Tenina has represented injured clients against major supermarkets and retail outlets.
We will help you protect your rights by evaluating the details of your case and guiding you through the legal system. We begin immediately to collect evidence, interview witnesses and negotiate with insurance companies. If necessary, we will file a suit on your behalf.
We will do everything we can to make sure you get the compensation that you deserve, including medical costs, pain and suffering and other damages.
Slipping and falling in a shop can lead to serious financial and physical consequences.
You can protect your rights and strengthen your case by following these steps, and consulting a personal injury attorney.
Prioritize your safety. Report the incident to the store. Take pictures and contact legal counsel.
To maximize your chances of winning a personal injury claim, it is important to act quickly.
This article was written by Alla Tenina. Alla is a top Sherman Oaks personal injury lawyer, and the founder of Tenina Law. She has experience in bankruptcies, real estate planning, and complex tax matters. The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. This website contains links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; the ABA and its members do not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.