Slip, trip, and fall accidents can happen anytime, anywhere. When they happen due to someone’s negligence, however, the injured party may be eligible for compensation. If you’re the victim of a slip and fall accident, here are the steps you should take to ensure you protect your rights under Georgia law.
Seek Medical Attention Immediately
The court decides compensation for a personal injury case on many different factors – one of which is the amount of time between the accident and the hospital visit. If the victim claims he or she was in a great amount of pain due to the injury, yet waited a month before seeing a doctor, the defendant could argue the injury must not have been very serious.
Be sure to tell your doctor about any pain you feel, even if you think it’s unrelated to the injury. Some injuries affect other parts of the body or affect you after the fact. Be honest with your doctor. Make sure you have the details of your injury well documented and photographed.
Gather Evidence
If you plan to take your slip and fall accident to court, you’ll need plenty of evidence supporting the fact that negligence caused your injury. Call the police or paramedics if necessary to conduct an investigation of the accident. Have a doctor document your injuries in detail, and take photos of where the slip occurred.
If there are any witnesses, get their names and contact information. Eyewitnesses may be able to vouch for the dangerous conditions at the time of your fall. Report the fall to the landowner, store manager, etc. It’s important not to give extensive statements about the incident until you’ve spoken with your lawyer.
Identify the Negligent Party
Not all slip and fall accidents result in lawsuits. However, if a dangerous condition on the premises, such as uneven floors, foreign objects on the floor, or a spill caused the injury, it may be enough to sue for negligence.
You need to identify the responsible party. Did a building’s construction cause the fall or a negligent worker who didn’t clean a spill? Identifying the defendant can be tricky, depending on the circumstances of the fall and the premises. Your lawyer can help you understand who may be at fault in your particular accident.
Work with an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
The most important step to take after a slip and fall accident is to contact an experienced Savannah personal injury attorney. Personal injury, premises liability, and negligence cases are difficult to fight in court. You need the assistance of an experienced attorney to fill out the necessary forms accurately, collect evidence for you, speak with insurance companies, and defend your case.
Due to a high number of personal injury scams and insurance fraud, it is growing increasingly important to hire a good lawyer. The courts will need significant amounts of evidence of negligence, and you’ll have to prove the negligence caused your injury. Hire a local lawyer so you don’t miss important state-mandated deadlines. Laws vary by state, so you need a personal injury lawyer who specializes in your area.
Injured in a Slip and Fall Accident in Savannah, Georgia?
If you need expert slip and fall attorneys in Savannah, trust Roden + Love, LLC with your case. Our injury lawyers understand the legal obligations property owners have to maintain a reasonably safe environment and can properly defend your case in court.
Slip and fall accidents can be quite serious, causing spinal cord injuries, fractures, concussions, and more. Don’t let someone else’s negligence go without consequences. If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, contact Roden + Love, LLC to discuss your legal options with an experienced attorney.