Slip and fall accidents can be a traumatic experience, especially when they result in serious injury. If you’ve been injured in this type of accident, it is important to know the right questions to ask in order to get the compensation you deserve.
Knowing what information to collect and how best to present your case can help ensure that justice is served.
Here are six (6) key questions that should be asked after any slip and fall incident.
What Conditions Caused the Accident?
It’s important to document the conditions that caused your accident. Were there wet floors, icy walkways, or any other hazardous conditions present at the time of your fall?
How Long was the Dangerous Condition Present Prior to the Accident?
It’s also important to determine how long the dangerous condition that caused your accident was present prior to your fall. Knowing how long it had been there can be used as evidence in court, showing that the property owner should have taken action sooner.
Who is Responsible for Maintaining The Property?
Was the property being maintained by a third-party company or was it the property owner’s responsibility? Depending on the answer, you may have to direct your claim or lawsuit in different directions.
Was the Responsible Party Aware of the Dangerous Condition?
If the property owner or their third-party representatives were aware of the dangerous condition that caused your accident, you may be able to pursue a case against them.
Was there a Sufficient Warning about the Dangerous Condition?
Before an accident occurs, property owners are obligated to provide sufficient warning of any hazardous conditions present. If there was not enough warning or signage regarding the dangerous condition, you may have a valid case for compensation.
Where Were You Looking When You Fell?
It’s important to remember where you were looking when the accident occurred. Were you preoccupied by your phone or something else that distracted you from seeing the hazardous condition? If so, this could reduce any amount of compensation you might receive.
Should You Speak with an Attorney About Your Slip and Fall Injury?
If you have sustained an injury in a slip and fall accident, speaking with an experienced attorney is recommended. They will be able to help you determine if negligence was involved, as well as work with you to secure the compensation that you deserve.
No one plans a slip and fall accident. Unfortunately, these happen at some of the worst times, and they can be absolutely humiliating to the parties involved.
When you’ve been through a slip and fall accident, you want to do everything you can to get through it and make it go away as quickly as possible. Don’t forget that you still need to be cautious and take the proper steps in hiring a California personal injury lawyer to help you with your slip and fall injury case.
Hiring an attorney can be stressful, overwhelming, and nerve-wracking, and you want to make sure you work with the one who is going to do the most for you and your case. When you’re shopping for a California slip and fall lawyer, here are a few questions that you need to ask before making your decision.
What is the attorney’s track record with cases like yours?
Has the lawyer worked with slip and fall cases before? If so, did they win? Were they able to get medical expenses and other damages covered? Just because an attorney specializes in personal injury cases doesn’t necessarily mean they have enough experience with your specific accident.
Will other attorneys be working on this case?
Many law firms have multiple attorneys behind the main name or face of the firm. When you work with a law firm, this means that you might be working with one of the attorneys on their team rather than the main attorney. It’s likely that they have an entire team full of highly qualified professionals, but you need to be okay with working with a different lawyer.
How long will it take to resolve your case?
If you were seriously injured during your slip and fall, you’ll likely have some medical bills to resolve and may even need to take some time off of work. With higher bills and lower income, this can be a stressful time in your life. You’ll want to know how long this will go on and how long your life will be disrupted by legal proceedings.
What are the fees?
Some personal injury lawyers will only charge if they win your case. Some will pull their fees out of the settlement you win. Others have set fees or upfront payments they require from their clients. Make sure you ask the attorney how their fees are structured so you know if you’ll be able to afford them.
Will your case go to trial?
A lawyer who assures you that your case is going to settle is a lawyer you may want to stay away from. All attorneys should prepare for every case to go to trial, even if it doesn’t. This way you’re well-documented and have all of the necessary information in the case that you do have to go to trial.
Make sure to ask each of these questions of your potential California personal injury lawyer.