Slip-and-fall accidents lead to over a million visits to the emergency room each year. In some situations, these accidents happen due to a property owner’s negligence. Here is a rundown on what to do after suffering injuries in a slip-and-fall incident in California.
Steps to take after an injury-causing slip-and-fall accident
Seeking medical help is an essential first step after suffering an injury in a slip-and-fall incident. This is critical even if the injury appears mild, as it might become serious. A physician can determine the injury’s severity and the necessary treatment for recovery. Seeking medical attention also creates an official accident record, which may help if the injured party decides to sue the reportedly at-fault property owner later.
The next step to take following the accident is to collect as much related evidence as possible. This means capturing photos and videos of the accident scene. The injured party may additionally want to take photos of his or her injuries during each stage of the healing process.
How an attorney can help
If an individual believes that his or her slip-and-fall accident injuries resulted from a property owner’s carelessness, such as failing to remove liquid from the floor in a store, he or she has the right to file a premises liability lawsuit against the owner with an owner’s help, seeking the reimbursement of monetary damages sustained in the accident. A successfully litigated suit in California may lead to a financial damage award to cover the individual’s medical bills and other accident-related losses, such as the loss of wages due to missing work while recovering from his or her accident injuries.