Yakima Slip and Fall Lawyers
Property owners have a responsibility to keep their premises safe, yet injuries often happen when some fail to maintain or repair their property, or when dangerous conditions increase the risk of injury. There are several scenarios that can result in injury to another on someone else’s property. You might hear these referred to as slip and fall accidents. This practice area refers to when someone slips on an icy sidewalk, falls in a parking lot or down a set of stairs, or skids on wet floors inside a restaurant, for example.
There are also those who are injured on someone else’s property outside of a slip and fall accident. Some common causes of premises liability cases include tripping on an unmarked rise in a sidewalk, falling into an uncovered pothole, having items fall on you while shopping in a grocery store, being injured on unsafe staircases with missing or sub-standard handrails, elevators or escalators operating under unsafe conditions, or poor lighting which leads to an injury.
Such accidents may sound minor, but they all too often cause life-altering, serious injuries and economic losses in the form of medical bills and lost wages. From broken bones to traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, or even in some extreme cases, wrongful death, these fall cases can be serious.
Equally important to your legal claim and ability to recover damages for medical expenses and lost wages are what actions you take immediately after the accident. If you are injured on someone else’s property, whether public or private, take the following steps to be sure you preserve your right to the compensation you deserve.
Seeking Medical Care After a Slip, Trip and Fall Accident
Often, an injured person will wait and see if his or her injuries improve after a fall, but this is not the time to “tough it out.” If you are injured, it is important that you seek medical care for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment right away. Not only will this ensure you are receiving the treatment you need, but it also prevents an insurance company from arguing you “weren’t really injured” because you failed to seek medical attention in a timely manner.
The Importance of Reporting a Slip, Trip and Fall Accident
It’s important that you, a loved one or family member report the fall injury as soon as possible. Speak to a manager or property owner, request that they create a written report about what happened, and ask for a copy for your records. Ask any witnesses to write a report about what happened, get their contact information, and request a copy. If the accident occurred at a private home, ask for their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance information.
Always Document the Accident Scene
If possible, take pictures of the scene as soon after your injuries as possible. Include photos of the entire area, and close-up photos of the hazard that led to your injury.
Look For Cameras – They Can Help Your Case!
In our day and age, there are cameras everywhere. Be sure to ask the business or homeowner for a copy of any video of the incident as soon as possible after your injury. Most cameras are set to record over previous recordings unless quickly saved, so time is of the essence.
Gather All the Information You Can
Take the names and numbers of any witnesses who saw the slip, trip and fall accident. Get the name and contact information of anyone who took your statement. Document the names of any employees that were present before, during, or after your accident. Write a detailed report for your own records. Our memories often fail us on little details, and a little detail could make a big difference in your case.
Be Careful About What You Say, and to Whom
You may receive calls from property owners, business managers, or insurance adjusters to talk about your injuries. They are looking out for their bottom line. They may try to get you to say something to damage your future fall injury claim or try to get you to settle your case before you even know the extent of your injuries. You are not obligated to talk to an adjuster, and it’s better to wait until you’ve spoken with an experienced fall lawyer or personal injury lawyer before speaking with anyone else.
Don’t Wait to Talk With An Experienced Accident Attorney
It is very important that you talk to a fall attorney as soon as possible after your accident. An attorney will ensure you don’t make any statements that will damage your personal injury claim. An experienced slip and fall accident lawyer, like those at Abeyta Nelson, understand how to preserve the evidence and fight back against corporations and insurance companies that don’t want to compensate you for your injuries.
Abeyta Nelson Injury Law is personal injury law firm with over 100 years combined experience handling injuries that occur on someone else’s property. If you have been injured on someone else’s property, contact the law offices of Abeyta Nelson Injury Law for a free consultation and case review. There is never a charge to talk with our slip, trip and fall accident lawyers about your claim, and we don’t get paid unless we win your case.
Call on the expertise of Eastern Washington’s top personal injury attorneys at Abeyta Nelson Injury Law for guidance. For over 40 years, we have successfully resolved cases involving falls and other liability claims against property owners who failed to maintain their property in a safe condition. Call us or drop by one of our locations in Yakima, Ellensburg, or Sunnyside for a free consultation about your case. We think that’s nothing to laugh at. We take your slips, trips, and falls personally.
Send us a message or give us a phone call at 509-588-0240 to get started now.
