Where an Attorney is Critical to Your Case
Slip and fall cases are unique in the fact that much of the evidence of the accident may come from witness accounts. Over the years there have been fraudulent cases in which people have created their own accidents and filed lawsuits against stores and buildings just to obtain an injury settlement.
Insurance companies have wised up to these fraudulent cases and are often much more diligent in reviewing the case details to prove there truly was a hazard caused by the property owner’s negligence and not the victim’s malicious intent. Therefore, to prove you were not at fault for the accident, you will need solid evidence of your accident circumstances.
Eyewitness accounts can be a good source of evidence in a slip and fall case, but they can be difficult to obtain on your own. A good slip and fall attorney will work diligently to obtain the contact information for any witnesses to your accident and connect with them to get a statement regarding the situation.
You should also be proactive in this matter – if you have just been in a slip and fall accident, if you are able to do so, get the contact information of anyone who saw the incident. That way you can quickly get to work recording their eyewitness account before their memory of the event is compromised by time.
Insurance companies may also see you as a source of witness testimony and ask you to provide a recorded statement. This is a step that should not be taken unless you have already discussed it with your Orlando slip and fall accident attorney.
The insurance adjusters often use pressure and coercion to trick victims into belittling their injuries or admitting that they were partially at fault for causing the accident. If this happens, they may be able to justify dropping your claim or offering a lower settlement.
Your slip and fall lawyer can help you avoid these pitfalls by acting on your behalf during negotiations with the insurance adjusters. They can also help you obtain other sources of evidence that many victims may not obtain on their own, such as video surveillance tapes.
If your accident occurred at a commercial building or in a public area where there is video surveillance, there is a good chance your accident was caught on tape. This can be excellent evidence to show that you were unaware of the hazard that caused your slip and fall accident. Many buildings do not readily hand out copies of security footage to anyone who asks – an attorney may be able to recover the security footage before it is erased or recorded over.
Once you have the evidence to build your Orlando slip and fall accident case, your attorney will help you negotiate with the insurance companies or other party for a fair settlement. One of the mistakes many trip and fall victims make is that they accept the first settlement offer that hits the table. At The Law Offices of Michael T. Gibson, P.A., Auto Justice Attorney, I don’t settle a case until I am confident that the amount is enough to cover both current and future damages.
Seeking a Fair Settlement with Help from Your Orlando Slip and Fall Accident Attorney
Before you sign the final settlement agreement you need to make sure the amount is appropriate for your current and future needs. After months of recovery and medical care, you’re probably facing substantial medical bills. A settlement that takes care of these bills is a welcome relief – but it should be much more than that.
How long does it take to recover from a slip and fall accident?
The common injuries from a slip and fall accident can cause months, even years of recovery, treatment and suffering. They are not always resolved by the time a settlement comes to the table. As a slip and fall attorney, I am focused on not only my clients’ current expenses and losses, but also their projected future losses and financial needs.
If you are facing permanent disability from your injuries or have lost a loved one who was a primary income earner in your household, you should also be seeking compensation for the wages that would have been earned had the accident not have occurred. Likewise, if the injury was of a permanent or fatal nature, emotional damages may be included in your settlement.
