A slip-and-fall can happen at any moment. It could occur when you are out dining at your favorite restaurant, shopping at your local store, or even at the grocery store. Such an accident could result in serious injuries that may drastically affect your life.
In the immediate aftermath of a slip-and-fall, you may be confused about whether you have a valid premise liability claim and what you need to do to recover compensation for the damages from your slip-and-fall. Here is what you need to know.
Do you have a valid claim?
A business or property owner owes you a duty of care if you are lawfully inside their premises. It means that they must take reasonable steps to ensure your safety. A breach of such care could result in legal liability.
For a valid premises liability claim, the negligence of the property owner or the person who controls it must be evident. For instance, if there was a hazard or dangerous condition such as a wet floor and the owner did not take care of it or provide sufficient warning to avert a potential accident, you may have a valid claim.
Calculating your damages
After ascertaining that you have a valid claim, the next step is working out your damages. Did you incur any hospital bills following the accident? Did your injuries prevent you from working or cause you pain and suffering? These are among the damages you may include in your claim.
Remember, these damages must be directly related to the injuries sustained in the slip-and-fall accident.
Your claim may be legally time-barred
It is crucial to settle your slip-and-fall claim as soon as possible. All personal injury claims are subject to the statutes of limitations, and you cannot take your claim to court after a specific duration.
That said, you should not rush to close your case. The most crucial thing is you get the compensation you deserve while keeping your options open in case anything goes wrong.