Whether you slid on a damp floor in the superstore or tripped on rubbles in a grocery store, a slip and fall injury can be serious and life-changing. Slip and fall accidents are one of the common types of avertible accidents that occur every year. And in such cases, the victim has the obligation to show the property owner’s liability for a hazardous condition.
If you win your case, you will be given fair compensation for your lost wages, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and loss of earning capacity. However, your words alone will not be enough to prove that you were injured on someone else’s property. You must prove some elements to win your case. Provide the following pieces of evidence to strengthen your case.
Pictures and videos of dangerous conditions
All businesses have the legal duty to uphold a safe environment for people. They go through some type of safety scrutiny and upkeep every day before they open for business. So, while it might seem that you slipped and fell due to your clumsiness, you can prove that the property owner had a duty to know about the dangerous conditions.
Provide evidence that the condition was dangerous, not just some small wear and tear. Take pictures or video footage of the dangerous conditions. Let the property owner or manager know about the incident, and if they are not around, contact the police; the police report will be of great value to your personal injury lawyer. They will use it as evidence in your case.
Proof of injury
The first thing to do after a slip and fall accident is to get medical attention immediately. If your foot or arm hurts, it could be broken. Let your physician know what led to your injury. Remember, you can use the doctor’s report and references as evidence to strengthen your claim. So, make sure that you keep all the records of medical bills, imaging results, and admission files from the hospitals you visit.
The next thing you can do is take many pictures of the injury. Remember that bruises and cuts can fade with time, so why not capture them now? Use your phone camera or ask a witness to take the pictures. Lastly, let the management know about your injury.
Proof of damages
Your evidence will prove liability as well as the worth of your injuries. Therefore, if someone else is responsible for your injuries, and you can prove it in court, you might be able to get the compensation you deserve for your damages.
You will need to provide evidence that you lost your ability to work and get income. This evidence can include your tax returns, invoices, pay stubs and witness testimonies regarding any future increase in your income, as well as other evidence of what you have not been able to earn due to your injuries.
You will also need to prove that the accident caused you pain and suffering, in case you had severe injuries. Did the injury make you miss some important events in your life? You might need to prove that you should not be where you are if it were not for the slip and fall accident.
Lastly, you will have to prove that you incurred medical expenses due to the accident. Here, you must provide medical, pharmacy, psychical therapy, doctor, and hospital bills. Also, you can ask your doctor to provide testimony as an expert witness to your case.
Bottom Line
A slip and fall accident is a preventable accident and it should not stop you from getting the compensation you deserve. Protect your rights in this type of case by providing the above types of evidence.
