How to Preserve Evidence After a Slip and Fall Accident

Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common types of accidents that result in serious injuries that require extensive medical care and treatment. These cases are so common because falls can happen anywhere–from home, to work, to a restaurant. Specifically, these types of cases are referred to as premises liability cases because the premises owner may be responsible to the injured person.

Premises liability cases end up in litigation most of the time. The main reason for this is that insurance carriers know that if proper evidence has not been collected and preserved at the beginning of a case, it becomes harder for the injured person to prove their case in court.

If you were injured in a slip and fall accident that was caused by the negligence of another party, you may be entitled to compensation. However, to ensure that you properly prove your case and obtain the full compensation that you are entitled to, it is important that you preserve the important evidence that your attorney will need to prove your claim. Contact the experienced slip and fall attorney Orange County at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates. For more information or to schedule a complimentary case consultation with a slip and fall lawyer, call 949-727-9300.

 

Important Steps to Take if You are Hurt in a Trip and Fall Accident

If you fall and injure yourself, it is important to take certain steps to increase the chances that you and your slip and fall attorney win your case if and when it ends up in court. The most successful cases are initially built on four core pieces of evidence:

• Witnesses
• Employees
• Reports
• Photographs

The evidence that may be necessary to prove your case will depend on the specific facts surrounding your slip and fall accident. For example, if you slipped and fell on a banana peel in the grocery aisle in a supermarket, you should save the banana peel in a Ziploc bag or even in the freezer. However, if you slipped on a broken stairway, you will not be able to save the staircase as evidence. Rather, your evidence will be the detailed photographs that clearly depict the defect that caused your slip and fall accident.

 

How to Preserve Evidence for a Successful Slip and Fall Case

The first several days following a slip and fall are important for finding and preserving evidence of what happened. If an accident happened on someone else’s property, you should return to the scene as soon as possible to locate any evidence and photograph the conditions.

It is also important to protect any physical evidence that contributed to the dangerous condition that caused your fall. If you cannot protect physical evidence, you should make sure to take detailed photographs of the dangerous condition.

The best way to preserve evidence of your injuries is to immediately report them to a doctor or other medical providers. You should also take photographs of any visible injuries, such as cuts, bruises or marks.

 

Why Evidence is so Important?

Slip and fall cases are often difficult to prove. Unlike a car accident, there is often no property damage that can be investigated and reviewed by an adjuster to determine fault. This makes it difficult in proving that the negligence of the property owner caused you to slip and fall and suffer injuries as a result. As such, physical evidence becomes a vital way to prove your case and obtain the monetary compensation that you deserve.

Since each slip and fall case will require different types of evidence, it is important to consult an attorney immediately following an accident. An experienced trip and fall lawyer will know the steps you need to take to preserve the evidence and to ensure that your case successfully comes to a resolution.

 

Contact an Experienced Slip and Fall Accident Attorney

Have you or someone you love been injured in a slip and fall or trip and fall accident that was caused by the negligence of a third party? If so, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The trip and fall accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates advocate for their clients’ full financial recovery through hard work and an aggressive approach. With multiple offices located in Irvine, Los Angeles, El Segundo, San Diego and Riverside, our personal injury lawyers represent accident victims across Southern California. For more information or to schedule a free consultation with an experienced slip and fall attorney, please call 949-727-9300.