A Slip and Fall accident – when a person slips, falls, and suffers an injury while on the property of another – could be grounds for a premises liability lawsuit. If all of the conditions for liability are met, your chances are good that you will win your case. A slip and fall accident case must meet these four criteria:

•Someone had a duty to keep the area safe

•Someone was negligent in that duty

•The negligence caused the accident

•The accident resulted in injury

If you have been injured in a slip and fall incident, there are steps you should take immediately to maximize the possibility that you can collect monetary compensation for your accident. In California, you have a limit of two years to file your claim, but it is best to move quickly while the information is still fresh. Here are the four steps you should follow.

Get an Incident Report

File an incident report with the police. The report shows the time, location, and conditions that were present during the accident. If there are witnesses, their statements will also appear in this report. Always request a copy of this report so you can share it with your attorney. The owner of the premises might ask you to record a statement at the time of the accident. Legally you are under no obligation to do this, and you should refuse.

Seek Medical Attention

One of the conditions of a lawsuit that must be met is the existence of an injury. If you are not really hurt, you don’t have a case. If you are hurt, get medical attention. When you fall, your body releases adrenaline to dull the pain of any injury, so you might not realize at first that you’re hurt. That is why it is important to get checked out by medical personnel even if you don’t think you’re injured. Always request copies of your medical records to take with you when you leave the accident scene or the hospital.

Do Not Accept an Offer

Following a slip and fall accident, the owner of the place you fell or a representative of the owners might approach you with an offer of compensation. It is important to know that you should NOT accept any offer until you have consulted with a personal injury attorney yourself. If someone is offering you money, this is a good indication that you have a strong case for a lawsuit.

Call a Los Angeles Slip and Fall Accident Personal Injury Attorney

A slip and fall accident can be both painful and embarrassing. While we can’t get you compensation for being embarrassed, we can fight to get you money to pay your medical bills, make up for lost wages if you are unable to work, and more. At Jahrmarkt & Associates, we work hard to get our clients the maximum compensation allowed by law. We have been here for 20 years, and we will fight for you. Contact us today for your free consultation.