What To Do If You Fall In A Store

Businesses are legally obligated to keep their customers safe. Regardless if you fall at a big box store or at a small, local company, you may have a valid claim against the store. So if you’ve experienced a fall at a store, it is important to know what to do.

What Is A “Slip And Fall” Injury?

A slip and fall injury occurs when a person slips, trips, and falls on someone else’s property. Slip and falls can cause a range of serious injuries including:

Head injuries, concussions, and traumatic brain injuries
Neck, back, and spinal cords injuries
Broken hips and pelvis
Soft tissues injuries like sprains and strains
Joint injuries like tears and displacements
Broken bones

These injuries can cause severe pain, require surgery, and even create a long term disability. So it is important that the injured party receives compensation for their medical treatments and wage losses, so they can recover.

Common “Slip And Fall” Store Injuries

Slip and fall accidents can be caused by a number of factors. A person may slip inside of a store because of dangerous conditions like poor lighting, narrow stairs and aisles, or because of negligence to inform people during repairs and maintenance like with a damaged or freshly mopped flooring. Also a person can slip outside of a store if the sidewalks, parking lot, stairs, or entrance way is damaged, cracked, or broken. Poor weather conditions can also contribute to slip and falls. If a store has not cleared the snow or ice after a storm from their exterior property, a person could easily fall.

Determining Fault In A Slip And Fall Claim

Stores have a legal duty to maintain a safe premises for their customers. In order to be awarded a claim against a store, the injured party must prove the store was at fault for the accident. Fault lies on the owner if they have created or knew about a dangerous condition, and did not take the necessary steps to remediate the situation or warn their customers about the situation in a reasonable time frame. A claimant will also have to prove that they were at the store for legitimate reasons and were exercising reasonable caution before the fall.

Proving Damages In A Slip And Fall Claim

Beyond the issue of fault, damages must be proven in a slip and fall claim. You have to prove that the fall was responsible for your injuries, and that any medical bills, wage loss, or other costs incurred were a result of the fall. This requires very specific documentation that can be expensive and difficult to acquire.

When It’s Time To Call An Attorney

Unfortunately, most store slip and fall cases are not easily resolved. Insurance companies and defendants will rarely acknowledged liability in slip and fall cases, so most people choose to hire an attorney. An attorney can help you prove fault, provide the best evidence for damages, and help you negotiate with the insurance company. So the best time is to contact an attorney immediately after a slip and fall, so that you can know how to navigate the the complexities of the claims process. This is especially important when your injuries have negatively impacted your life. During the healing process, you do not have the time or energy to fight with an insurance company to get the damages you are owed. So if you’ve experienced a slip and fall accident in a store, contact an attorney at All Injuries Law Firm immediately. Our dedicated attorneys have years of experience, helping people like you determine the legitimacy of their claim, prove fault and damages, and help them receive the compensation they deserve after a slip and fall. So contact us today for a free consultation.