If a business or other property owner is negligent about maintaining facilities open to the public, people who suffer injuries because of that negligence may have grounds to seek compensation. The failure to inspect and maintain a property can constitute negligence.
When people slip and fall at a business, they sometimes make the mistake of failing to preserve adequate evidence, leaving them at a disadvantage if they take legal action to get compensation later. The three types of evidence below can all play a major role in a successful slip-and-fall claim.
1. Proof of unsafe circumstances
Using a cellphone to take pictures or record video footage of slipping or tripping hazards can preserve proof that the property was not appropriately safe for visitors. Workers may eventually clean spills or move tripping hazards, making immediate documentation critical to proving that the premises were unsafe.
2. A report filed at the business
Incident reports help validate that someone fell at a business. Notifying a manager about the incident before leaving the business helps ensure there is an internal record of the event to prove that it occurred.
3. Medical documentation
Slip-and-falls are not actionable unless they cause actual economic losses. Seeing a doctor the same day as a slip-and-fall incident can help prove that the fall caused an individual’s injuries. Medical records can provide needed evidence and also support claims for damages related to current and future medical expenses and lost income.
Reviewing this evidence and the details of the fall with a premises liability attorney can help those hurt in a slip-and-fall understand their options. With the right assistance and evidence, they may be able to recover some of their losses.
