Slip-and-fall incidents have long been a source of physical comedy in the entertainment industry. They are also a major source of liability for businesses and property owners.
When you get hurt because you slip and fall on someone else’s property, you will likely have questions about your rights following such an injury. Texas does allow both insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits related to slip-and-falls on someone else’s property. What should someone who recently got hurt in public know about such claims?
Negligence usually needs to play a role
Typically, for someone hurt on private property to have a valid claim in civil court, they need to show that the other party was negligent. Improper facility maintenance is a common form of negligence that can lead to successful claims after a slip-and-fall incident.
A lack of lighting in a stairwell, torn carpeting inside of a business or spills that go uncleaned due to understanding are all potential forms of negligence that could lead to someone filing a claim.
You need to have verifiable losses
You can’t sue just because you feel embarrassed about falling in public. However, if you are one of the more than a million people who need emergency medical care after a slip-and-fall each year, then you may be in a position to bring a claim. Provable medical expenses, lost wages due to injuries and property damage costs can all lead to a successful premises liability insurance claim or civil lawsuit.
Documentation is key to success
If you leave the grocery store where you slipped on spilled soda without telling anyone what happened, you will have a hard time convincing the owner of the business to cooperate with you when you try to negotiate for compensation.
Even if you don’t notice injuries right away, soft tissue injuries and brain injuries can take some time to manifest after you fall. Reporting the fall before leaving the store and also using your phone to record the issue that led to your injury could help you prove what happened later if you need compensation.
Pursuing a premises liability claim after a slip-and-fall incident can both compensate you for your injuries and also hold a business accountable for unsafe company practices.
