Crucial Things To Learn If You’ve Been In A Slip And Fall Accident
Slips and falls account for over a million hospital emergency room visits. If you sustained an injury in a slip and fall accident in Florida, there are a number of things you must understand. For example, you need to know the steps to take after such an accident. You also need to know about speaking to the insurance company after such an accident. This article discusses five crucial things you should know if you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident.
Steps After a Slip and Fall Injury
After slipping and falling, you must take certain steps.
Firstly, you must determine what you slipped on. For instance, did you slip on a wet floor? After you determine what you slipped on, you should take pictures and/or videos of the site of the fall, if possible. To ensure your photos or videos depict the cause of your slip and fall accident, get wide shots of the area where your accident occurred. If, for example, you slipped and fell because of a wet floor, ensure you take pictures and/or videos before the area is dried. Additionally, you should take photos of your injury.
You also want to ensure you speak to any witnesses and get their contact information after slipping and falling. Witness testimonies can come in handy after you file a slip and fall claim.
Additionally, after a slip and fall injury, you want to make sure that you report the incident. If a report is written about your accident, ensure you request a copy.
Finally, make sure you seek medical attention and reach out to an attorney after slipping and falling and sustaining an injury. A skilled attorney can assist you with your claim if you are eligible to file one.
Claiming Damages
If you are qualified to file a slip and fall claim after suffering an injury in a Florida slip and fall accident, there are different damages you may be eligible to recover. In Florida, people usually recover economic and non-economic damages in slip and fall claims. Economic damages include lost wages and medical expenses, and non-economic damages include mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and pain and suffering.
When it comes to damages like medical expenses and lost wages, it is crucial to remember that you may be qualified to recover both those damages incurred in the past and those likely to be incurred in the future.
Claim Value
It is understandable to want to know the value of your slip and fall case during your initial consultation with an attorney. But, when it comes to how much your slip and fall case is worth, it is only possible for you to get an estimate after an attorney has evaluated your case. Additionally, it is crucial to note that several factors can affect the value of your slip and fall case. For example, if your injuries are more severe, it is likely to increase the amount you could be owed. This is because more severe injuries result in higher medical expenses, lost wages, and more impact on a victim’s daily life.
Talking to the Insurance Company
After suffering an injury in a slip and fall accident, it might seem like a good idea to contact the property owner’s insurance company. However, this is rarely a good idea. It’s best to contact an attorney and let them handle the insurance company for you. When you speak to the insurance company, you may be tricked into believing that the insurance company cares for you. But the truth is, insurance companies are in the business of making profits. If you talk to the insurance company, you might end up making statements that can be used against you. A slip and fall accident usually happens rapidly, and you may be unsure how things occurred. You don’t want to be tricked by an insurance adjuster into saying or admitting to something that did not really happen.
Medical Payments Coverage
Suppose, after suffering an injury in a slip and fall accident in a commercial building in Florida, you experience difficulty proving your fall was caused by another person’s negligence, yet you have substantial medical bills. In such a case, the commercial building where your accident occurred may be able to pay for your treatment for a specific period if it has what is called medical payments coverage.
Contact a Fort Myers Slip & Fall Attorney
Have you suffered injuries after slipping and falling on someone else’s property in Florida? Contact our Fort Myers slip & fall attorneys at The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro.
Source:
nfsi.org/nfsi-research/quick-facts/
