You have slipped on a wet floor inside a grocery store, and now you’ve got serious back injuries. Accidents happen, right? While it may seem like just an unfortunate accident, that may not always be the case. Grocery stores, department stores, and businesses have a responsibility to ensure a safe environment for their customers. This includes taking necessary safety precautions during bad weather, cleaning up spills quickly, and fixing any known hazards. When they fail to do so, they can be held responsible for any accidents that occur because of their negligence. Here is what you need to know before you decide whether or not to proceed with the Arvada slip and fall claim process with the help of a
slip and fall attorney.
Report Your Accident
If you’ve been hurt in a slip and fall accident in Arvada, the first thing you should do is to report the accident to the premises owner or the highest-ranking manager you can find, which will help your case if you choose to file a claim later. If you get hurt on public property, report the accident and injury to the city or town as soon as you are able. The manager or owner will likely fill out an incident report immediately, and this will provide documentation of the events as they unfolded.
Gather Evidence
If you are able, gather the names and contact numbers for any eyewitnesses and snap some pictures of the scene. Carpet tears, wet floors, and improper lighting in parking lots are just some of the pictures you could take to show how your accident unfolded. If you slipped on snow or ice, the condition of the parking lot and the snow and ice on the lot is important to document. This steps is crucial to the slip and fall claim process in Arvada. Without pictures, it can be difficult to prove that negligence occurred.
Seek Medical Help
Insurance companies don’t like to pay money unless they have to. If you aren’t injured enough to seek medical attention immediately, they may deny your claim. When you go to the emergency room or doctor’s office, be sure to tell them that your injury occurred because you recently slipped and fell in a store. This will help with the process when you file a claim in Arvada because there will be a written report stating that your injury occurred immediately after your slip and fall accident.
Why Do You Need Legal Guidance?
Big businesses and insurance companies will try everything they can think of to reduce their claims. As such, you need to hire a local personal injury attorney to represent you. Your Arvada attorney will help you with the whole process, including:
- Examining your slip and fall accident
- Reviewing the evidence
- Determining if you have cause to file a claim against the negligent party
Be honest with your lawyer about any pre-existing conditions or circumstances that may have played a role in your accident. For example, if you slipped because you were wearing brand-new stiletto heels, then your attorney needs to know that before filing your claim. Your attorney will be able to negotiate with the insurance companies to arrive at a settlement that is fair and just, so you can recover from your injuries.
Let Our Arvada Lawyers Help You With the Slip and Fall Claims Process
If you or someone you love has been injured, you need a lawyer on your side to investigate your accident and help you with the Arvada slip and fall claim process. At
Hull & Zimmerman, we are dedicated to the belief that everyone deserves justice.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
