About 8 million Americans visit the ER after a fall every year. Slip and fall accidents comprise 12% of total falls in the US and account for more than 1 million ER visits.
If you are in a slip and fall accident on someone’s property in Glendale, you could have a personal injury claim. But what if you are in such an accident and there are no witnesses? Follow the tips below to prove negligence in a slip and fall accident. If you have questions about a slip and fall accident, our premises liability lawyers in Glendale can help.
Take Photos Of The Accident Area
The best way to prove that a slip and fall accident happened that injured you is to take photos. Use your smartphone to take as many pictures as you can before leaving the accident scene. Take pictures as soon as you can so no one changes anything at the scene. For instance, if you slipped on an icy sidewalk, you should take pictures of the scene before the owner clears the path.
Images of a slick sidewalk after your accident increase the chances that your Glendale premises liability lawyer can obtain a settlement for you. Your attorney will collect as much evidence as they can, but you are in the best position right after the accident to take photos.
When taking images, get many angles of the accident scene. For instance, if you slipped and fell on a puddle in a department store, take several pictures of the hazard up close and far away.
Get Medical Attention
If you slip and fall on someone’s property and think you are hurt, go to a doctor right away. Even if you think it is a minor injury, it is always better to get the injury documented immediately. If you do not go to the doctor the same day, the insurance company will say that you were not seriously hurt. Many people delay seeing the doctor because they do not think they are injured. This causes many personal injury claims to be denied.
Look For Surveillance Cameras
Even if there was no witness to your slip and fall accident, there could be surveillance camera footage of what happened. If the accident happened in a retail store, there should be security camera footage available. Talk to the store owner about obtaining the footage. If that does not work, your attorney can help.
EMTs Came To The Scene
Some slip and fall accidents are serious. Even if no one saw you fall, there can be clear injuries that require first responders to help. For example, you could have a broken ankle or wrist. Or, perhaps you tore a ligament in your knee. When you need immediate medical treatment after a fall, this is clear evidence of what happened. Your attorney will gather evidence that EMTs were dispatched and treated you.
Tell Your Doctor What Happened
Your physician’s professional opinion will always carry a lot of weight with a jury or insurance company. When you visit the doctor, clearly tell her what happened and how you were hurt. Tell the doctor that you were hurt in a slip and fall accident at someone’s property. Your doctor will note in your medical record that it was a slip and fall injury. Later, your attorney will collect the medical evidence to show how you were hurt.
Did Another Customer Fall?
Your fall does not need to be witnessed if there was a spill on the floor that management knew about. For example, if another customer fell on the floor before you did, it should have already been cleaned up. Or, the store should have posted a warning sign. Your attorney can find out if other people were injured in the same area as you.
You Told The Owner Or Management Immediately
When you are hurt in a slip and fall accident, you need to tell the owner or manager as soon as possible. They must complete an accident report and they also will see the dangerous condition. Documentation is what matters most in a slip and fall accident, especially when there was no witness.
You Called A Lawyer Right Away
It always helps a personal injury claim to notify your attorney as soon as possible after the incident. It matters because evidence disappears quickly. Your Glendale personal injury attorney will work to gather evidence about the slip and fall injury. If you wait a few days, critical evidence could evaporate.
How Can Your Attorney Prove Negligence
If you slipped and fell at the Glendale Galleria, your attorney will pursue a legal claim against the owner or manager. However, you must prove they were negligent to receive compensation for your injuries. How is this done? Your attorney must demonstrate the following points to the insurance company or jury:
The property owner caused the dangerous condition, knew about it, or should have known. For example, if you fell in an olive oil spill in the grocery store that was there for 15 minutes, your attorney can argue the owner should have been aware of the dangerous condition.
The owner did not correct the condition when there was a chance to do so. Or, they did not warn anyone of the hazard in a timely manner.
The owner’s failure to warn or fix the hazard caused your injuries.
You suffered damages when you fell. For example, if you broke your arm and wrist, you can point to your thousands in medical bills and lost earnings. If negligence is proven, you may be eligible for compensation.
Call Our Premises Liability Lawyer In Glendale
Slip and fall injuries can be extremely painful and damaging. You may not have time to catch yourself when falling and the injury can prevent you from working and enjoying life.
If you are injured in Glendale in a slip and fall accident, a premises liability attorney at Ourfalian & Ourfalian may help you obtain compensation. Please contact our Glendale slip and fall attorneys for a complimentary consultation about your Southern California slip and fall case at (818) 550-7777.
