When we enter a store or a commercial property, we have a certain expectation that the owner has done everything in his or her power to keep the premises safe from hazards. If there’s snow, walkways should be salted. If there’s a spill, it signs should be put up and the problem should be taken care of in a timely fashion. So you might think that an injury from a slip-and-fall accident should be an open and shut case.
Not exactly. Here are some questions you should ask yourself if you’ve been involved in a slip-and-fall accident:
- Did the property owner or an employee know about the problem?
- Is there something the owner could have done to prevent the accident from happening?
- Were you injured by something a “reasonable” person could have avoided? Say, for instance, you trip on a drainage grate. Could you have just walked around it?
These are just a few of the criteria that can help determine a slip-and-fall case, but they are far from comprehensive. In fact, there are no black and white laws governing these types of cases. That’s why it’s can be so vital to have legal help to walk you through the particulars.
An attorney trained in handling slip-and-fall cases will know what to ask and the angles to attack to build a potential case. If your claim is brought successfully, you could be entitled to compensation to pay for medical costs, lost wages and more. You may want to enlist the help of an attorney who can assist in your case.