Think about all the times throughout the day when you’re on another person’s property.
This holds true when you shop at the mall, visit a grocery store, step into your office building, and stop at the local coffee shop.
No matter how cautious you may be, there’s always a chance that you could suffer an injury on another person’s property. For example, you could slip and fall at the grocery store as a result of a spill that wasn’t appropriately cleaned up by staff. When this happens, what should you do? Who do you talk to? West Palm Beach premises liability attorneys at Fetterman & Associates, P.A. explain the exact steps to take to help you recover damages against the property owner responsible for your injuries.
Steps to take when you’re injured in a premises liability accident
Should you suffer an injury on someone else’s property in Florida, there will be a lot going through your mind. It’s important that you remain calm and take these five steps:
Step 1. Seek medical attention
Your health and well-being is top priority, so don’t hesitate to receive immediate medical attention. Even if you think you can recover at home, you’ll never understand the full extent of your injuries until you’re examined by a medical professional.
If you don’t receive timely medical care, you may have a difficult time in the future proving that your injuries were related to the premises liability accident. When it comes to your health, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Step 2. Take photographs of the property and your injuries
Whether or not you’re able to do this depends largely on the extent of your injuries.
For example, if you suffer a head injury resulting in disorientation, the last thing on your mind will be taking photographs of the scene where you were injured.
However, if there’s any way you can do this, it’s an important step to take. It can go a long way in supporting your injury claim if you decide to take legal action against the property owner.
Note: take photos of the scene, including what caused your accident (floor spills, fallen merchandise, etc.), as well as your injuries. You can never have too many photos to back up your Florida premises liability accident claim.
Step 3. Collect witness information from other people on the property
Did anyone see what happened? Sticking with the grocery store example above, this could include people such as employees and other customers.
If possible, collect their contact information, including their name and phone number. Your premises liability attorney may want to take witness statements to strengthen your case against the property owner.
Tip: If you aren’t able to speak with witnesses before leaving for the hospital, remember that most properties like grocery stores have security cameras inside. These video cameras may have recorded your premises liability accident and can be helpful to prove what happened.
Step 4. Don’t sign anything
If you’re injured at a business, the manager or property owner may ask you to sign something at the time of the accident. They hope that you do so without thinking twice, but you must know better.
If you share your signature, you may be giving away some or all of your legal rights to recover compensation for your injuries.
You’re under no obligation to sign anything, so politely decline. Instead, speak with an experienced West Palm Beach premises liability lawyer who can help you hold the property owner responsible.
Step 5. Consult a West Palm Beach premises liability attorney
A premises liability accident injury that occurs on another person’s property could change your life both in the short and long-term.
Maybe you suffered a head injury that is making it difficult to concentrate at work. Or maybe you broke a bone, which limits your ability to provide for your family.
You have legal rights, so you want to protect them at all costs.
Rather than tackle this situation alone, consult with a West Palm Beach premises liability attorney to help you get the justice you may deserve. Your premises liability attorney, along with their legal team, can answer all your questions, provide you with legal guidance, and fight to get you full compensation from the property owner.
Florida property owners have an obligation to keep you safe from premises liability accident injuries
When you visit another person’s property, such as a place of store or business, the owner has a legal obligation to keep you (and others) safe at all times.
If they fail to do so, it puts your safety at risk while also making them responsible for your injuries.
Here are some examples of potential causes of premises liability accidents in a retail setting:
- Debris on the floor
- A wet floor, such as the result of a spill, leak, or rain carried in from the outside
- An store item that falls from a shelf
- Shopping cart accident, such as the result of damage or defects
There are many things that can go wrong when you visit a retail store that are out of your control. Even if you attempt to protect yourself, something could go wrong when you least expect it.
It’s not always easy to keep your cool after a painful accident. This is especially true when you’re injured and it’s clear that another person was responsible. But even though you’re in a difficult spot, taking the above five steps will put you on the path to recovery, physically and financially.
And when you combine these steps with the knowledge of Fetterman & Associates, P.A. premises liability attorneys, you can be confident in your pursuit of full compensation for your injuries. Don’t let the property owner get away with causing your injuries. Contact us online today or give us a call to schedule your free consultation.