What Should You Do if You Have an Accident on Someone Else's Property?
Regardless of whether the nature of your accident was a slip and fall or some other type of premises liability accident, you should consider taking the following steps to protect your health and your case:
Seek Medical Attention
Your health is your first priority. Depending on the severity of your injuries, call 911 and allow the EMTs to examine you. If necessary, let them take you to the emergency room. If not, follow up with your own doctor as soon as possible.
Inform Management
Make sure you let the on-duty manager of the establishment or premise know that there's been an accident. They will probably need to complete an incident report per their policies. Ask them to preserve any surveillance video that may have captured the incident.
Take Photos With Your Phone
Take pictures and video of the location where the accident occurred and whatever hazard caused your injury. If you have visible injuries, make sure you capture them as well. Having a detailed record of your accident will help with your legal case.
Ask For Witness Information
Collect the names and contact information of anyone who saw your accident. In addition, request the names and titles of any employees who you spoke to regarding the incident. Employees and managers can leave the company or transfer locations, so it's important to have a list of the people working that day.
Contact a Premises Liability Attorney
Most public-access premises have insurance policies to cover them in the event of an accident. These insurance companies have legal teams and adjusters who are master negotiators. It's not unusual for accident injury victims to be approached by an adjuster within 24 hours of the accident with an offer to cut a check on the spot. The catch is that you will have to sign away your right to pursue further legal action.
By hiring a personal injury lawyer who handles cases of premises liability, you can ensure that you will not unknowingly accept an inadequate offer. The attorneys at Weinstein Legal can review your injuries, the degree of liability of the establishment, and the evidence available. Once they have a full picture of your premises liability case, they can then begin negotiating with the insurance company.
How a Premises Liability Lawyer Can Help
Premises liability lawyers can legally represent you while you work on your medical recovery.
Their duties include:
- Obtain your medical records
- Obtain a copy of the incident report from the premises
- Subpoena witnesses for deposition
- Request copies of surveillance recordings from the establishment
- Calculate economic and non-economic damages
- Pursue your claim through litigation if necessary
Weinstein Legal works on a contingency basis, which means that our legal team only receives compensation if you receive funds through a settlement or court award. All consultations are free and you don't have to pay out of pocket for our legal advice.