Most of us are embarrassed when we slip and fall at a store. We get up quickly, insist to onlookers we’re “fine,” and rush off. But if you’ve slipped and fallen on a wet floor, you may want to ignore your wounded ego and focus instead on what just happened.
The extent of your injuries, particularly dangerous head injuries, may not show up for hours. However, the circumstances around your fall could disappear in just a few minutes. If you slipped on a wet floor, it could be mopped up. Witnesses who knew about the hazard could be lost in the crowd. And, if you don’t file an accident report with the business, where is legal evidence that your fall happened?
If you need legal advice after you’ve slipped and fallen because of wet floors, the personal injury attorneys at Harrell & Nowak in New Orleans can help. Slip and fall accidents on wet floors are often complicated cases that require an experienced attorney who understands the nuances of a premises liability lawsuit. These types of cases are filled with terms like “reasonable care” and “should have known,” which hinge on varying judgment calls.
What to Do After a Fall
If you fall on wet floors at a business or store and injure yourself, you should:
- Identify what substance caused you to fall.
- Write down all the details of your fall.
- Get the names and contact information of people who witnessed your fall.
- Take pictures of the area where you fell.
- File an incident report before you leave the building.
- Seek medical care.
- Contact a personal injury attorney.
Who Is Liable?
There is no precise equation that determines fault in a slip and fall accident as each case hinges on the circumstances. However, business owners must make a reasonable effort to keep the premises free of conditions that could cause a person harm, such as wet floors. At the same time, it must be determined if a person’s own negligence contributed to their injuries.
To prove liability, attorneys at Harrell & Nowak will have to prove one of the following:
- The property owner created a dangerous condition.
- The property owner knew of the condition and failed to correct it.
- The condition existed long enough that a reasonable property owner should have known about it and corrected it before the accident.
Getting Help
If you are considering a legal claim, you should discuss your situation with an attorney soon after the accident. It is important to gather evidence quickly because memories about what happened can fade rapidly. You will want an attorney to preserve the key details in a legal document as well as gather other pertinent evidence, such as copies of accident reports.
The experienced personal injury attorneys at Harrell & Nowak offer free case reviews to help you determine your rights. If you choose to seek damages, they will aggressively pursue your claim to get you fair compensation for your injuries, including finding and hiring the best medical and scientific experts. There are no up-front legal fees and you won’t owe any attorney fees unless you get compensation.