If you have slipped and fallen in a public area because of poor sidewalk construction or because of some other obstruction that you weren't able to avoid, you should consider filing a slip and fall claim, which would also be known as a personal injury claim. Here are five tips for doing this:
Report Injury to the Owner of the Property: Since the accident has taken place on public property, it can be difficult to determine who the owner of the property is. If you need help deciphering who is responsible for the property, a personal injury attorney can help. They have all the right connections and experience to determine this quickly. Once you discover the responsible party, it's important to notify them of the injury right away. This way they cannot claim that your injury must not have been serious enough because you didn't make them aware for several days.
Get Witness Names and Contact Information: Once the injury has occurred, you will want to gather any witness information. Having witnesses will ensure that they can be called to testify for you if your case goes to court. Your personal injury attorney can also use their statements to ensure that your story is clear and unrefutable.
Take Pictures: If you are able to, it's important to take pictures of the area where the accident occurred as soon as it happened. If you are unable to because your injury is too severe, have a witness take pictures for you. You should also take pictures of your injury before any treatment from your doctor has been done.
Go to the Doctor: No matter what, your injury should be looked at by a doctor if you plan on filing a personal injury claim. Without treatment from your doctor, your case is likely to be dismissed because it is assumed that you were not badly hurt. Also, don't wait to go to your doctor or to the emergency room. This must be done right away so that your injury is taken seriously.
Don't Provide a Recorded Statement to the Insurance: Once you have filed your personal injury claim, the insurance company may contact you to ask questions. They will also ask for you to provide a recorded statement. It's important that you say n, because they will look for discrepancies in your statement to be used against you in court. Also, your personal injury attorney should be the only one talking with the insurance company to ensure that all information is given accurately and without any confusion.
When you follow these five tips when filing a slip and fall claim, you can be sure that your case goes as smoothly as possible to ensure that you receive proper compensation.
For more information, talk with a personal injury attorney or visit websites like http://www.danielgoodmanlaw.com.
Share30 June 2016
When I was a child, my father was the pastor of a small evangelical church in my hometown. I always enjoyed going to church in order to play with my friends. One of these friends suffered a horrific accident at a local gas station one day. As he was walking towards the entrance to the gas station, he was struck by a vehicle. His leg was seriously injured during the accident. To help with the expenses of recovery, his father hired an accident and personal injury attorney. This professional helped my friend’s father sue the person who struck his son. On this blog, you will discover the advantages of hiring an accident and personal injury attorney after incurring injuries from a devastating accident.