There are certain things that retail or grocery store staff don’t like to hear. It’s never a good thing when the store intercom blares: “Cleanup on aisle two! Cleanup on aisle two!” Not only does that mean an employee has to spring into action with a broom and mop, but it also means there is a hazard for customers in the store.
Unfortunately, “slip and fall” incidents happen all the time in stores and other business. A spilled or leaking substance presents an immediate hazard to patrons in a business. All it takes is a single misstep for a fall to occur. If that happens, there’s a good chance employees and members of management will do everything they can to assist. It’s safe to assume that these employees are genuinely concerned about your wellbeing, but it’s also safe to assume that they have been trained to respond in a certain manner to limit any potential liability.
These types of falls most often happen in places like grocery stores, but falls and injuries can occur in other places as well. Even a fall at a private residence can be something to pursue through the legal system. Some examples include:
- Ice that hasn’t been cleared or salted on a driveway or sidewalk
- Stairs or escalators that haven’t been maintained
- Store aisles that created a hazardous walkway and caused a fall
If you experience a “slip and fall” on someone’s property or at a business, it’s important to remember a few basic things (even if you don’t think you are injured at the time):
- You may not know the extent of your injury or if you are even hurt until hours later or even the next day. Avoid making any statements about your physical condition to the employees (or property owners) unless you need immediate emergency medical assistance.
- Don’t sign any documents at the scene.
- Take pictures and videos of the scene. Evidence will disappear quickly if you don’t document it.
After leaving the scene, the very first thing you should do is seek medical attention, if necessary. The earlier an injury is detected, whether it is a mild sprain or something more serious, the better it will be in the long run.
The second thing you should do is contact an attorney to determine if the property owner or business is liable for your injuries. The attorneys at Watson Injury Law will help determine if your injury was caused by the property owner’s negligence. If it was, you need a dedicated team in your corner and working on your behalf.
A very important detail of an injury-related lawsuit will be the damages.
If there aren’t any damages, there isn’t a case to pursue. If you have been injured because of someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to recoup the following damages:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Compensation for pain and suffering and other general damages
After a fall, especially if you are injured, you may be contacted by a representative from the company or someone from an insurance carrier. It is imperative that you don’t try and negotiate on your own and that you don’t talk to them without a lawyer. It is not a secret that insurance companies want to pay as little as possible for claims, and they will do anything they can to minimize your case. Before having any conversations after a fall, contact the attorneys at Watson Injury Law so you know what your rights are.