Slipping and falling whilst shopping at a store or supermarket is a much more common occurrence than you would think. Not only could this type of accident be embarrassing, but it could also be very dangerous.
If you have been injured whilst shopping, you could very well be entitled to some sort of compensation. However, in order to claim for personal injury, you must be able to prove that the substance or item that caused you to fall was a dangerous liability that could have been avoided by the person who owns, operates, or controls the store.
First things first, if you have fallen over and injured yourself you should seek medical assistance right away. Staying in good health is the most important aspect of this whole ordeal. If you break a bone, the most obvious step is to call an ambulance or go to the emergency room. However, even if the pain does not seem unbearable, it is always best to get a second opinion from a medical professional. If the accident was serious, you may have sustained internal injuries that are not as easily perceived. You may also find that you are not in pain initially after the fall and that it begins to hurt after.
Retail conglomerates will often have their own in-house team of lawyers who aggressively fend off personal injury claims. Therefore, you shouldn’t try to file a report against a supermarket or store without the correct legal guidance. Some law firms even offer a no-win-no-fee agreement which is helpful if you cannot afford to hire a lawyer. If you are trying to sue Walmart or any other big corporation, you will want to seek out an experienced law firm like Harrell and Harrell that has a history of standing up for clients in these situations.
Whilst you are still at the scene of the accident make sure you, or whoever has accompanied you, can gather as much evidence as possible about the fall. Another smart idea is to ask for the contact information of any people who may have witnessed the accident. Your lawyer could get in touch with them to further collate evidence.
If you do decide to take the case to a court of law, it could take months before the legal process begins. Make sure to write down any important details that you might forget about in the future. Try to take as many photos or videos as you possibly can as this can help you prove your case in a court of law. You are in your right to request the footage recorded on the security surveillance camera if it recorded the incident as it was happening.
Keep in mind that it is in the accused party’s best interest to battle your claim and disprove your injury. Few insurance companies or retail conglomerates will agree to give out the rightful compensation for your damages. Make sure you have a great attorney on your side, plenty of evidence, and the determination to prove your case.
So what do you do if it was a loved one that slipped and fell? Someone like your parent or grandparents? Well in cases like these, it’s going to be drastically more serious as there is the potential that they could have seriously hurt themselves. After doing all of the other steps provided, you should then take them to their general practitioner or the emergency room depending on how much pain they’re in. It may be best to look into live-in care as well as this can help them out depending on how badly in shape they are after the fall. Just make sure you keep a close eye out on your elderly loved one that fell.
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