What To Do After A Slip And Fall In A Sarasota Grocery Store
Grocery stores are one of the most common places we see slip and fall accidents in Sarasota. Oftentimes, the fall is the result of spilled food but they also happen in the parking lots and entranceways. If you’ve been in a slip and fall accident at a grocery store, it’s really important to know what to do to protect yourself. Grocery store owners and their insurance companies are going to do everything they can to discredit your claims and get out of paying for your injuries. To protect yourself after an accident, here is what you need to know.
Four Steps To Take After A Grocery Store Slip And Fall
Falls can happen suddenly. You’re walking along and out of nowhere, you slip or trip and hit the ground. Oftentimes the suddenness of a fall can put us in shock, leaving us unsure of what to do.
Here are five steps to take after a fall.
Seek Medical Attention: The most important thing is your health, everything else can wait. If you are seriously injured, call 911 and seek medical treatment. If you can wait, make sure that when you leave the grocery store, you go straight to a doctor. There are many reasons to see a physician right away. The first is that even if you think your injuries are minor, many serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries and spinal injuries can take days and even weeks to show. Going to the doctor right away can get you a diagnosis. Secondly, seeing a physician right away creates a paper trail that connects your injuries to your accident. This will be important when pursuing your settlement.
Notify The Staff: You will want to notify the staff of your slip and fall. Ideally, you will tell the manager or owner of the store. In most cases, they will file an accident report about your injuries. This is usually part of corporate policy. Make sure that when they complete the report you get a copy. You will need it during the claims process. If they do not file an accident report, make sure to let your attorney know.
Collect Evidence: Smartphones are a really helpful tool after a slip and fall. If you can, take pictures of everything. Take pictures of the site of the accident and what caused it. Take pictures of any of your injuries. Then if you can collect any contact information from witnesses who saw the accident. Also, make sure to get the information of the staff that you contacted. All of this evidence can be used during the claims process to help prove your case. There is no such thing as “too much evidence”, so collect any information and evidence you can even if you don’t think it’s important. You’d be surprised what small details can be used to win a case.
Speak With An Attorney: Slip and fall accidents are legally challenging. You have to prove:
● The store had a duty to prevent hazards
● The store knew about the hazard and did nothing to prevent the hazard
● The hazard caused your slip and fall
● Your slip and fall lead to injuries
● Those injuries caused damages like missed wages and medical bills
To prove all of these things, you need evidence and expertise. A personal injury attorney specializing in slip and fall cases has the knowledge needed to win your case. Even if you decide not to hire one, it’s always in your best interest to speak to one after an accident to understand all of your legal options.
The team at Justice Pays in Sarasota, Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh, can help. We have helped thousands of personal injury victims receive full and fair compensation for their slip and fall injuries. We’ll help you collect all the evidence you need to prove your case. We’ll fight for your rights and protect you against predatory insurance companies. We’re always here to help!
