If you were the victim of a slip and fall injury, then it is important that you understand the ways in which you can help to ensure that your case settles without having to go to court.
Here are some tips for successfully settling your slip and fall accident lawsuit before it reaches trial:
Enlist the Help of Your Primary Care Physician
To successfully settle your slip and fall injury case, you need to be able to prove that the injuries you are claiming compensation for actually happened during the accident. While some injuries such as cuts and bruises are easy to prove, other injuries such as back problems or whiplash can be a lot harder.
The insurance company is going to require documentation from your physician about your injuries to help prove that you have suffered injuries. The easiest and most effective way to accomplish this is to make an appointment with your physician where you can sit down and explain in person that you need their assistance with your claim.
This is a common request, and your physician should be willing to write a statement that attributes your injuries to your slip and fall injury. If your physician is not willing to write you a statement, then your personal injury attorney can require them to attend a deposition.
Obtain Proof that the Business Knew About the Hazardous Condition
In order to settle your slip and fall case, you need to be able to prove that there existed a known hazard that caused your accident to happen. For example, if you slipped on a wet floor that was not properly marked after having been mopped, then you can prove that the business had a known hazard of a wet floor.
There are three different ways you can prove that a hazardous condition existed at the time of your accident:
- surveillance camera footage
- incident reports from employees
- sworn testimony from witnesses
Most businesses today have surveillance cameras that record events that happen in and around their buildings. Your attorney can subpoena the footage to prove that there was a hazardous condition that caused your injuries.
In addition, companies require their employees to fill out incident reports for their insurance company when someone is injured on their property. Your lawyer can also subpoena these reports to prove that the business knew there was a danger.
Finally, your attorney can obtain sworn testimony from any witnesses who saw the accident as it was happening. The testimony is admissible in court and can prove that the business was at fault for your slip and fall injury.
For more information, contact Putnam Lieb or a similar firm.
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