If you have slipped and fallen on someone else’s property, you may be able to hold them accountable for your damages. However, the path to success in such claims is not easy. The insurance company or the judge will not believe your word unless you have evidence to back up your claim. A strong claim requires you to prove that the other party was negligent, which led to the accident and your injuries.
In brief, there are four elements of negligence in all personal injury cases, and the plaintiff must establish them all to recover the highest compensation possible. Hiring an attorney is the best way to ensure you get the amount you deserve. To know more, click here.
Evidence to gather for a slip and fall accident
Testimony from eyewitnesses.
Eyewitnesses can offer great information about an accident because they may have seen the incident unfold from a different and unique point of view. Therefore, they can provide valuable details. You and the other party may have your stories to tell, and the details might conflict with each other. So, it helps to have a neutral witness who is not interested in the outcome of the case. Speak to people who may have witnessed the accident and take their contact information.
Photos and videos.
In this technical world, digital evidence can bring you the highest compensation and help you win any legal claim. It especially helps when the photos and videos are date stamped because you would not have to prove further when they were taken. If you are physically able to, taking photos and videos of the accident site and your injuries is recommended. Ask for surveillance footage from nearby businesses and stores to collect additional evidence.
A copy of the premises’ incident reports.
If you were injured on someone else’s property and that property was a business, perhaps a grocery store, you may be able to write a report of the accident. The report usually includes the details and circumstances of the accident, such as how the incident unfolded and if you were injured. After filling out the form, you can ask the business owner or the store manager to give you a copy of that report.
Write accounts of injuries.
When you realize you have been in an accident and reach a safe place, take a notebook and start accounting for your injuries in detail. Write everything about where it hurts and if one area hurts more.