Whenever a slip-and-fall accident occurs, the results can be catastrophic. If this has happened to you or someone close to you, it will be critically important that you have the help of an attorney. That will be your best chance of obtaining the compensation you deserve.
Sand Law attorneys have the experience and skill it will take to help you win your slip-and-fall accident case. We’ve worked in these types of cases for years, and we’ve built an impressive track record.
This kind of problem is typically associated with slipping on ice, but it can happen at any time of the year and in any environment. Take advantage of our skills and experience by scheduling a free consultation as soon as you can. Contact us online or give us a call at 651-291-7263.
Here are six of the most common forms of evidence your attorney will use in an effort to help you get the money you deserve in your slip and fall case.
1. Personal Pictures and Videos
Imagine losing your balance out of the blue and falling so quickly that you don’t have enough time to protect yourself. Unfortunately, this happens far too often, resulting in horrible injuries and, in some tragic instances, even deaths.
You may be 100% certain that you slipped due to the negligence of someone else. It could have been a spill in a grocery store aisle, or you may have tripped over a curb at night trying to get into a store that had a lack of outdoor lighting. But no matter how sure you may be the accident wasn’t your fault, that won’t mean anything unless you have the solid evidence it takes to help you win your case.
Two critical pieces of evidence will be photos and video. If you’re not too badly hurt, try to take a picture or video of the scene using your smartphone. It will be important to take these photos or videos as soon as possible. A grocery store employee could be dispatched to clean the spill that caused you to fall, or the sun could melt the ice where you fell outside a retail location. Conditions can change quickly, so fast action will be needed.
2. Eyewitness Testimonies
More than likely, your accident occurred in a place where there were quite a few people. It’s highly likely that at least two or three of them saw what happened. Talk to these witnesses and get their contact information. Your attorney will follow up with them to get their account of the accident. This testimony could be a powerful help in proving what caused your slip-and-fall accident.
3. Expert Witness Statements
Personal injury attorneys will often call on expert witnesses to help support a client’s argument. There are actually many different types of experts. Here’s a quick look at just a few.
- Building code experts – Engineers, building inspectors, and other knowledgeable professionals will be able to tell whether your accident occurred due to a code violation on the part of the defendant.
- Flooring experts – Suppose you slipped on a wet floor in a store or some other type of public building. These experts will know how to determine how slippery the floor was when you fell.
- Medical experts – The insurance company may claim that your injury didn’t have anything to do with your fall. A medical expert will be able to testify that there is a connection between that injury and your accident.
4. Scene Recreation
Another type of expert, an accident reconstruction expert, can show the sequence of events that led to your accident. They’ll perform an investigation, looking at witness statements, analyzing pictures of the scene, and using other tools to recreate the accident and help prove your case. Sand Law attorneys have turned to these types of experts for years and found that they can be invaluable when it comes to winning a personal injury lawsuit.
5. Security Camera Footage
You’ll find security cameras in just about every type of indoor environment that’s open to the public – as well as many locations that aren’t. These cameras are running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so there’s a very good chance that one of them captured your accident.
Collecting that footage, however, will usually be up to your personal injury attorney. After all, that footage will probably belong to the defendant in your case – and they’re not simply going to give it to you, no matter how nicely you may ask. Your attorney, however, can force them to release that footage – even by getting a subpoena if necessary.
6. Local and National Building Codes
We alluded to building codes briefly earlier in this article, but it’s important that you know these could play a critical role in helping prove your case. In many instances, a defendant will try to hide behind a shield of ignorance, claiming there was no way they could have known of the dangerous condition that caused your accident.
A good attorney, however, will be able to defeat that defense strategy. One method could be by showing the defendant was in violation of either local or national building codes. These are just a few examples:
- A lack of lighting near stairs and curbs.
- Failure to provide non-slip mats on surfaces that are typically slippery.
- Clogged or otherwise defective pipes that could have allowed puddles of water to form.
Learn more: Overcoming the Open and Obvious Defense in Minnesota Slip and Fall Cases
Contact a Slip and Fall Attorney to Discuss Your Case
If you’ve suffered an injury in a slip and fall case, you’re going to have a whole lot of questions. You’ll probably want to know, for instance, how much money you might receive, and how long it will take for you to get that money.
The attorneys with Sand Law will have the accurate answers you need. More importantly, however, we’ll fight passionately to help ensure you get exactly what you deserve for the negligence that led to your suffering. Use our online form or call 651-291-7263 for a free case review.