A slip-and-fall accident can happen when you least expect it. One moment you are walking into your favorite grocery store for your weekly shopping, and the next, you are in the emergency room fighting for dear life. If you are hurt in a slip-and-fall accident that is attributable to the property owner or manager’s negligence, then you may be entitled to compensation for the resulting damages.
However, to pursue a premises liability lawsuit and receive the financial restitution you deserve, it is important to know the steps to take and the missteps to avoid. Here are three things you need to do as soon as you can following a slip-and-fall incident:
Notify the property owner
Immediately after the slip-and-fall accident, it is important that you notify the property owner about the incident. While filing your slip-and-fall incident report, be sure to include as much information as possible. Some of the facts you need to include in your incident report include the date, time and location of the slip-and-fall, the circumstances that lead to the slip-and-fall (wet floors, torn carpet, loose cable, etc) and any witnesses. If you sustained visible injuries, be sure to include them in the report too.
Seek treatment
A slip-and-fall accident can leave you with a variety of injuries. And while some injuries, like twisted ankles or broken bones, may be easily noticeable, others like internal injuries require a specialist’s attention to fully diagnose. As such, it is important that you see a doctor immediately after a slip-and-fall accident for a thorough check-up.
File a claim
Most premises liability claims are settled out of court. However, if you and the defendant are unable to reach a settlement, then you will have to seek legal redress. For this, you need to file your personal injury claim within the statute of limitations period. In New York, you have up to three years to file a premises liability claim against the property owner or manager.
Slip-and-fall accidents can leave you with life-altering injuries. Knowing your legal options is crucial to safeguarding your rights and interests while pursuing damages in a premises liability case.