Should You Hire a Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer?

1. Determining Fault

Determining who is at fault is a large undertaking in slip and fall cases, as the accident only involves one party, making it unclear as to who is liable – the victim or the property owner. An injury lawyer is going to look at the surrounding environment and circumstances to see what the catalyst was for the fall (dangerous conditions), and then gather evidence to help prepare a case for claim.

2. Dealing With Insurance Companies

When going up against a business or property owner, you’re also going up against their insurance company. An insurance company may try to delay, deny, or even underpay your claim. A lawyer will have years of experience in dealing with insurance company tactics, and can help open up the communication channels needed to negotiate for a fair settlement.

3. Proving Liability

A slip and fall injury lawyer can help you prove liability in order to pursue a claim. This means that you must prove that the defendant (at-fault business or property owner) was negligent. To be considered liable for your accident, their negligence must have played a part in causing your injury. An injury lawyer will be able to reconstruct the scene to determine if the conditions were dangerous, and if the owner did not do their duty in warning about any latent dangers to the public. Some common dangers include:

1. Wet landings with no signage.
2. Poor signage/small signage in hard to see areas.
3. Uneven surfaces like flooring or tiling.
4. Open wiring that dangles from holes not filled in.
5. Lack of handrails in stairwells or proper barriers on rooftops.

If an owner fails to correct dangers and does not uphold the responsibility of maintaining a safe environment, and this can be proved that this negligence contributed to your slip and fall accident, then they can be held liable.

4. Proving Damages & Obtaining Compensation

In addition to their role of reconstructing the scene and asking questions about the circumstances around the accident, a good slip and fall injury lawyer can also help you obtain compensation for your injuries by working with experts to determine the extent of your injuries, and calculate the value of damage done to you. This is done by using the documents gathered during evidence collection, (employer pay records, tax forms/returns, medical records, scene photographs, witness statements), and are used to obtain a fair settlement on your behalf.