If you have been injured as a result of a slipping and falling during a visit to a store, you may be entitled to receive compensation for lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, etc. Such claims are known as slip-and-fall cases in personal injury law. They refer to claims where there were general injuries sustained from an accidental fall. Please contact a personal injury attorney if you have been injured recently at a store. They will work with you to determine if you have a valid claim.
Electronic stores pose little risk of slip and fall due to liquid. Most stores only sell a small amount of soft drinks or food, and stores are usually carpeted. However, items that are for sale can be on the floors, and cause tripping. This can include music CDs, smaller items for sale that are available near the cash register, etc. The bathrooms are tiled, however, and the usual risks of water and other fluids being left on the floor and causing a slip are still there. Also, there may be things in the front of the store, such as debris and other items, that have been brought in from the outside.
Gathering Evidence After A Slip And Fall
If you do have a slip and fall accident at Best Buy or any other electronic store it’s important to gather evidence as quickly as possibly to support your case that the store was negligent. The most important thing to do after you fall is to photograph the scene of the fall. While you wait for emergency medical help or for the store manager to write up an incident report take your phone and take photos of the entire area where you fell. Document any debris, water, or anything else on the floor that could have caused your fall. If you fell on a curb photograph it. Photograph the area from several angles and take some short videos too if you can. Photos and videos will help a judge or jury understand exactly what caused the accident and how the store was negligent.
Witness Statements
Another important piece of evidence to collect as quickly as you can is statements from witnesses who saw you fall or saw what caused the fall. A quick video statement is fine as long as the person says their name and phone number on camera so you have that information to contact them later. If you don’t have a pen and paper close by use your phone to get their name and contact information so you can contact them later on.
Medical Documentation
You will also need medical documentation that proves your injuries and shows if there are any long term effects from the injuries, like if you aren’t able to work for six weeks because of a broken leg. Even if you don’t think that you are seriously injured go to the emergency room and get checked by a doctor. Sometimes injuries become much worse in the hours or days after an accident. You will need medical bills, a doctor’s assessment and diagnosis, X rays and other medical documents to prove the extent of your injuries.
Proof Of Negligence
The last bit of evidence you will need to gather is proof that Best Buy or any other electronic store was negligent and caused the slip and fall because they didn’t follow safety protocols. That could mean that there was no floor sign warning of a slippery floor. Or it could mean that there were no mats to make the floor less slippery in wet weather or it could mean that the icy doorway and sidewalk were not shoveled or salted. Use your phone to get photos and video that prove the store was negligent in creating a hazard free zone for customers.
Four Elements Of Personal Injury
Determining whether or not an accident was caused by negligence and if there is a personal injury case depends on whether or not the facts of the case support the Four Pillars of Personal Injury. Those pillars are:
Responsibility
Responsibility means whether or not the party that is liable for the accident can pay for medical costs and other damages. In a case like this where a store or restaurant is involved responsibility is not usually a problem.
Liability
The establishment must be at least 50% liable for the accident. That means that they failed to take action to protect customers like not putting out a Wet Floor sign, not cleaning up spills right away, not putting out mats or non-slip carpets in bad weather, or in some other way not warning customers of a potentially dangerous situation. If the establishment is 50% liable or more for the accident then a personal injury case can go forward.
Damages
In order to be eligible for damages the injured party must be able to prove that there is long term impact from this accident. That means providing things like medical records, doctor or hospital bills, and treatment plans. The person must show that their ability to live normally or work has been impacted by their injuries in order to qualify for damages that cover more than just medical bills.
Negligence
Negligence means having proof that the establishment didn’t take required action to protect customer or didn’t follow established safety protocols. In order to meet the standard for negligence there needs to be tangible proof that the establishment didn’t do what they were required to do. Proof can be witness statements describing unsafe conditions, photos of the area that show spilled liquid or slippery conditions, videos of the area, or any other proof that the area was not being properly maintained for safety.
Contact An Attorney Today
To receive help after an accident at Best Buy or any electronic store, simply fill out our free evaluation and you will be put in contact with an attorney who specializes in slip-and-fall. Please keep in mind that your claim is subject to what is known as the Statue of Limitations, which limits the amount of time that you have to legally file a claim. So please don’t wait to file a claim.
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Best Buy, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
