If you have been injured in an accident away from your home that involved slipping up or tripping over you may be able to make a claim for compensation to recover the cost of treating your injuries. Many people who have had an accident of this type find it difficult to know exactly where to start when contemplating making a claim. Here are some useful hints to make sure you have a useful personal injury claim:
At the Accident Scene
Accidents can be very upsetting and if you, or someone else has been injured your first priority is to make sure that medical treatment is arranged and if need be, calling an ambulance to get to hospital. If possible, there are several things that could be done right at the scene of the accident that could mean making a claim later on more likely to be successful.
Take a note of the situation that caused the accident. Where did it take place? How did you fall over? Was anyone else watching? Do you think you could have avoided the accident or was the hazard hard to avoid?
If you have a cell phone or device on you that is capable of taking photos, take some of the accident scene. Often, evidence of a hazard is difficult to obtain later on as it is usual for the property owner to remove any evidence as soon as possible, especially if they think that a personal injury claim is going to be filed against them.
Ask any witnesses if they are prepared to give evidence of the accident later if asked. You will need contact details so you can contact them later. The question of whose fault it was and how much to blame you might have been, if at all, will be vital in determining how much you can claim if you file a lawsuit against the property owner.
After the Accident
If you go to hospital or get any medical treatment, make sure that you keep any records, especially of the extra costs that this treatment involves. If your recovery is likely to be long, you should get an estimate of how much it may cost you in the future from your physician. You will need to include your present and future lost wages in your damages calculation.
If you have to stay at home or in hospital and cannot go to work or if you run a business, keep a record of how long you cannot work and an estimate of how much income you are likely to lose.
Contact a suitable personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the accident if you are considering making a claim. If your expenses are relatively small and you are confident of negotiating with the property owner and insurance company by yourself, you may choose to use the small claims court and not use an attorney, but most people find that an attorney is more
Your attorney will discuss the accident with you and go over what evidence you have. It is important in any personal injury claim to be certain that fault can be identified. In some states, you may not be able to make a claim at all if you were even responsible in a small way for the accident, while in other states, you may make a claim if you were partly to blame and obtain a portion of the total amount needed. Your attorney will discuss these things with you and advise you whether you have a good chance of winning a claim.
If you slipped and fell on someone else's property, you may have a tough time winning a personal injury claim. This is why it is always very important to contact a personal injury attorney before filing a personal injury claim after a slip and fall.
