Shopping Mall Trip & Fall Lawsuit
Proving fault after an accident isn’t always an easy task. Several people get injured throughout the United States each year and many of them have difficulty making a claim. Depending on the situation, the property owner is typically liable for your injuries. More here on liability. If you have medical bills to pay, you may want to consider filing a claim and holding the property owner responsible for the incident.
Is the Shopping Mall Owner at Fault?
Shopping injuries can happen frequently and can happen in a number of ways. One of the most common is a slip and fall injury. These are often the result of wet floors, but torn carpets, escalator malfunctions and poor lighting can also play a factor.
There are a number of ways the shopping mall owner may be at fault. Several factors are always involved when making this decision and a judge will look at a variety of factors, rather than just testimonial.
One of the first things to consider is the surface of the area. It is natural for flooring to become uneven with time and for spills to happen. The property owner is responsible for correcting any flooring issues and cleaning up any spills. If the trip occurred without warning and with no way of knowing or avoiding it, the owner may be at fault. If it is a situation where the person was careless, the owner may not be at fault.
Understand Your Medical Bills
The main reason that most people feel they need to file a case is because they have substantial medical debt due to the incident. This can include initial ambulance bills as well as later medical expenses such as follow up appointments, x-rays, physical therapy and medication. All of these bills add up, and many people cannot afford to pay them.
When you file the claim against the shopping mall, you should have a clear idea of the medical treatment that you will need in order to become well again. While you may have a crystal clear case of negligence, this won’t do you any good if you don’t know how much money to ask for. Save all of your bills and request estimates from doctors or physicians for any future bills.
Even if you do not notice any severe injuries right away, you should still contact a personal injury attorney right away. Symptoms such as back or neck pain may not be present initially but could be part of a much bigger issue later on. Some people, for example, may have a small fracture and still walk away from the scene of the accident.
Hiring a personal injury attorney allows you to get the medical attention you need right after your accident. Using their connections to medical doctors and professionals, you can determine if you have a significant injury and make a logical decision about filing a claim.
Your personal injury attorney will provide you with personalized attention and walk you through every step of the claim process. Every lawsuit is different, so it is important to hire someone who can pay close attention to details.
Going to Court Over a Shopping Mall Trip and Fall Lawsuit
While some trip and fall situations can be settled outside of the courtroom with the shopping mall owners, you may need to pursue the lawsuit further. Your trip/slip fall attorney will be able to fight for you, helping you with legal advice. This can help you make better decisions regarding your case while getting you the medical assistance you need.