To succeed in a slip-and-fall case, you need to show that you were caused to slip and fall by another party’s negligence. This means that the property owner or occupier should have corrected the dangerous condition before your accident. But they didn’t, and you suffered injuries as a result. You must contact a lawyer immediately if you’ve been injured in a slip-and-fall accident. This will allow them to help you file an insurance claim and prepare a case for trial if necessary.

Why Should you Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer?

A slip and fall lawyer is a highly trained professional with the legal resources to pursue compensation for you in your slip and fall case. They will investigate your accident, collect evidence, and determine the amount of money you deserve. They will work to recover your economic and noneconomic damages (pain and suffering, medical bills, etc.), and if your situation requires, they may also recover punitive damages from the defendant. The best way to prove negligence is by examining the physical injury you suffered from your fall, the cost of treatment, and other losses you’ve sustained. This is usually done by collecting witness testimonies, surveillance camera footage, and medical records.

Photographs

Photographs are essential in proving slip and fall cases because they paint a clearer picture of the accident site. They can also help document injuries and determine the extent of damages incurred. It is vital to take photos of the accident scene immediately following the slip and fall before the property owner can change the location or remove hazardous conditions that caused the injury. This will allow you to obtain proof of the dangerous situation and show the property owner’s failure to address that hazard. When taking photos of the scene, you should take them from different angles and in close-ups to get a good look at the defect or hazardous condition. You should also capture images of the surrounding area, especially if it has poor lighting or if there is damage to the environment that is visible in the photo.

Video

Video footage is an essential part of proving your slip and fall case. It can help an insurance company or a jury understand what happened to you and how you were injured. Video evidence is so crucial in these cases that you may lose your subject entirely if you cannot get it. Many businesses, especially grocery and department stores, have surveillance cameras to catch your slip and fall. Some bystanders may have filmed the incident on their phones or tablet. However, obtaining this evidence can be a complicated process and may require the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer. Without the proper guidance, you can miss out on evidence that can be used to win your case and receive total compensation for your injuries.

Witness Testimony

Witness testimony is one of the most crucial pieces of evidence in proving your slip-and-fall case. Eyewitnesses can help prove that the property owner was negligent and caused your accident. In most cases, you’ll need to establish that a dangerous condition existed on the property and that it should have been cleaned up or fixed immediately before your injury occurred. This is why collecting the witness’ statements as soon as possible after the accident is critical. However, it would be best to remember that witnesses’ memory fades over time. Therefore, you must ensure the person’s full name, address, and contact information are included in their statement.

Medical Records

Medical records are one of the most critical pieces of evidence for proving a slip-and-fall case. They can be used to show how your injury was caused by an accident, how much it cost you in medical bills, and how it affected your life. These documents may include emergency room visits, doctor’s notes, diagnoses, recommendations for treatment, and pain documentation. They also contain medication history, which can help paint a picture of your overall health. Medical records can also be beneficial for insurance claims. When evaluating an injury claim, insurance companies often request medical records to help them determine whether or not your injuries were caused by an accident.