Slip and fall accidents can cause serious injuries, high medical bills, lost income, and long-term disability. If someone else is responsible for the accident, a slip and fall lawyer will help you obtain compensation. Speak to an experienced lawyer soon after the accident to begin compiling evidence and filing a claim. Here are a few questions to ask your lawyer:
Experience and Case Details
Ask a slip and fall lawyer about their experience representing clients. Find out how many similar cases the lawyer has handled and their success rates. Choose lawyers recognized by the board and highly rated by past clients. Ask the lawyer for an honest opinion about your case based on their past experiences. Determine the factors that can work in your favor and against you. Ask about the potential for compensation and what evidence is needed to increase your likelihood of winning.
You can ask about the legal process and strategy the lawyer uses and what they anticipate for your case. Leading lawyers have a working framework but approach each case independently based on the client’s needs. Determine how long the case is expected to take, what a trial looks like, and whether an out-of-court settlement is possible or necessary. Experienced lawyers can break down your case and provide legal advice for the next steps. Find out your role in the process, including what to do and avoid during the lawsuit.
Claimable Damages
Questions about damages and compensation can help you determine if the case is worth pursuing. Slip and fall accidents can stem from other people’s negligence or your fault. Proving third-party negligence requires evidence showing the liable party failed to take reasonable care to prevent the accident. An example is a restaurant failing to clean up spills or provide warning signs for wet floors during janitorial work. If a third party is liable for the accident, you can claim all damages directly tied to the incident.
Lawyers will help you claim medical expenses, lost wages, and property damages. Medical expenses cover surgical procedures, medication, rehabilitative therapies, doctor’s visits, medical equipment, and other treatments for suffered injuries. Lost wages pay the income you couldn’t make because of the injuries suffered. If the injuries cause disability, you can claim future lost income and long-term medical care. Slip and fall lawsuits also allow you to claim emotional distress, loss of consortium, physical pain, loss of quality of life, and more.
Negligence and Compensation
Winning a slip and fall claim requires evidence that someone else’s negligence resulted in the accident. A lawyer helps you prove a property owner’s negligence if the fault is clear. An example is failing to repair a raised tile or provide a warning sign for the hazard in a public place like a supermarket. Hazards include unattended tools and cords, improper lighting, wet floors, uneven carpeting, broken steps, and sidewalk or parking lot cracks or potholes.
The fault isn’t clear or might be shared in some cases, resulting in partial liability. Ask your lawyer about the evidence gathered and whether they have enough to win the claim. Ask to deal with the lawyer or person handling your case. Inquire about updates, contact methods, and seamless communication with the lawyer to facilitate evidence gathering. Find out how much you can legally claim based on the evidence against the defense.
Speak to a Slip and Fall Lawyer Today
Obtain compensation for bodily injuries and damages suffered because of another person’s negligence. Speak to a lawyer to represent your interests and help you get repaid for the damages suffered. Contact a slip and fall lawyer today to learn more about your legal rights and possibilities for your case.