A trip, slip and fall can leave you embarrassed and disoriented. It can also leave you with life-altering injuries. If negligence played a role in your slip-and-fall accident, you may pursue the property owner or management for compensation through a premises liability claim.
However, it is important to note that your premises liability case begins the moment you trip, slip and fall. What you do (or fail to do) following the accident can greatly impact the outcome of your case. Here are three crucial steps you need to take:
1. Document what you can
The moments following an unexpected slip-and-fall can be confusing, to say the least. However, if you can, make effort to document the circumstances that led to the incident. Were you tripped by a loose cable, a torn carpet or a faulty guard rail?
Was the floor wet or slippery? Be sure to document these. With your phone, take as many photos of the accident scene as you can. This will go a long way in strengthening your case. And if there were witnesses, be sure to take their names and contacts as well.
2. Seek medical treatment
A slip-and-fall accident can result in a myriad of injuries. While some like bruises, twisted ankles and even broken bones are easy to notice, others like internal bleeding and brain injuries require specialized care to properly diagnose and treat.
Seeking immediate treatment also ensures that you obtain a medical report that you will present in court to justify your claim.
3. File a claim
Most premises liability claims are generally settled in court. However, if you cannot reach a settlement, then you will need to file a civil claim in court. To have a valid case, however, you will need to act within the statute of limitations period. In Pennsylvania, this means filing your claim within two years from the date of your slip-and-fall accident.
No one sees a slip and fall coming. If you are hurt following a slip-and-fall accident that is not your fault, however, you have the right to pursue compensation for the resulting medical bills and other losses. Our Easton slip-and-fall accident lawyers can help.
