My name is Arlene, and two years ago, I was involved in a car accident that wasn't my fault. I had some injuries that required a hospital stay, and I was unable to return to work for several weeks. I didn't know how I was going to pay my bills, and it was very stressful for me. My friend told me that I needed to hire an accident and personal injury attorney so I could recover my lost wages and medical costs. I was so glad that I hired the attorney, and my stress level immediately went down. Through the attorney, I was able to get a settlement, and I was no longer in financial trouble. I am writing this blog to let everyone know the importance of hiring an attorney after an accident. It's my wish that this blog will help others who are in similar situations.
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Get The Help You Need From An Accident Attorney
Putting Down A Wet Floor Sign Isn't Enough To Avoid Liability For A Slip And Fall
Mattie Bennett
You're probably used to seeing wet floor signs when you go to the grocery store. However, even if the grocery store takes steps to keep you safe, they might be negligent under some circumstances.
Factors That Can Cause a Supermarket to Be Found Liable
A supermarket must know about the dangerous situation to be held responsible for a slip-and-fall accident. Hazardous conditions can include:
- Situations where an employee caused the spill
- Circumstances where a customer created the spill, and nothing was done about it
- Any case that the store should reasonably expect would happen
For example, a supermarket should expect the store to be slippery in the winter when customers walk into the store with snow stuck to their shoes. The melted snow would cause the floor to become slippery.
The Building Owner Must Have Had the Ability to Take Action
Sustaining an injury is not enough. The store must have had the ability to prevent your accident but did nothing. If the spill happened shortly before your slip-and-fall accident, you might not be eligible for compensation.
Even if the store cannot eliminate the spill right away, they must warn you by putting a wet floor sign in place or giving you a verbal warning. However, this might not be enough. For example, if the spill is a result of a leaking pipe that hasn't been fixed in weeks, the store owner might have created a negligent situation.
What to Do After the Accident
Make sure to take pictures of the supermarket so that you can show how unreasonably dangerous the situation was. Speak with witnesses who saw the accident so you can exchange contact information and ask them if they are willing to speak on your behalf.
How to Increase Your Settlement
Then, it's time to take legal action against the appropriate party. Even if an employee caused the accident, the store owner is responsible for ensuring their building is safe. They have probably insured the building, and your next step will be negotiating a settlement with the insurance provider.
You must receive help from an experienced legal professional when negotiating with an insurance provider. Claims adjusters know various tricks that they can use to reduce your settlement amount. However, an insurance provider is more likely to take you seriously if you retain legal counsel. Then, you'll be more likely to maximize the compensation you will be able to receive.
Contact a local premises liabilty lawyer to learn more.
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