Say you have a slip and fall accident on a loose mat in the middle of an aisle, unaccustomed as you may be to preparing for danger around every turn of the local big box store. You are on the floor, in pain. You assess your condition, use your cell phone – or ask a companion to use your cell phone – to shoot photos of the scene. Then, it may be wise to take an ambulance to the hospital. Above all, you should seek a doctor’s care immediately.
When it comes time to recoup the medical costs associated with treating your injury, you may need to sue to get a fair settlement. Consult with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
One of the first steps in filing a lawsuit after a slip-and-fall accident is identifying the responsible parties. Fault may be traced to a retail store employee or a tenant who caused the hazard, but additional parties may also oversee and control the accident site. A Fort Lauderdale personal injury litigation attorney will help to identify who is responsible: the business owner, landlord, property manager, or the property owner.
To find out who is legally responsible for the injuries you suffered, the following must be determined:
• The owner or employee caused a spill, left out a piece of debris, or caused a slippery or dangerous surface
• The owner or employee knew of the condition and did nothing about it, or should have known that such a condition could have caused a hazard and taken steps to fix it.
Identifying the responsible party is one of the most important parts of a lawsuit involving personal injury. Don’t be left with an identity crisis.
