A slip and fall accident can leave you with serious pain and other symptoms, making you worried about many things including your health and financial situation. You hope to recover as soon as possible and free yourself from the chronic pain you are dealing with. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may not be able to return to work for a long time. But, while you don’t earn any money, your medical bills may continue to pile up on top of your utility bills and mortgage. And as you worry about all these, you will get calls from the insurance company adjuster who will try to find fault in you to devalue your personal injury claim or deny it. But, you don’t have a legal obligation to speak with the adjuster. In fact, you can just tell them to talk to your Seattle personal injury lawyer. Your attorney knows how to deal with them effectively in a way that you won’t be taken advantage of.
The Legal Side of a Slip and Fall Case
As a victim of a slip and fall on someone else’s property, you can file a premises liability claim. Every business owner in Seattle should keep their places of business safe for those who will visit them. Thus, they need to prevent accidents by inspecting their premises for safety hazards and remedying dangerous conditions. Also, the state lets slip and fall victims sue those who own a private residence for premises liability for the injuries they suffered while they were a guest. But, it is not easy to prove the owner is responsible for the slip and fall incident. Also, it is challenging to show that your injuries resulted from the slip and fall accident itself, not because of a lingering issue from an older injury.
The Insurance Adjuster is Not Your Friend
If you suffered a slip and fall accident in a place of business, you must get medical treatment right away. Even if you can stand up and walk away from the scene, or drive home, you must go to the emergency room first. A lot of injuries from this type of accident may not show symptoms right away. But, if you sustained immediate injuries such as broken bones and serious cuts that require stitches, call 911 right away.
Just like other types of accidents, your slip and fall case can be resolved without going to trial. The property insurance of the property owner will make a settlement offer to cover your medical bills. However, you may still have other losses you want to be compensated for. Keep in mind that insurance adjusters will not protect your interest. In fact, they will want to give the smallest amount of compensation for your injuries. That is why you should let your attorney handle any negotiations with them.
