How Do You Prove In Court Negligence in a Slip and Fall?
Personal injury law can be complicated because you always need to prove that some sort of negligence occurred, and that the accident was not just a horrible mistake that was unavoidable. This can be especially difficult with slip and fall accidents, as people sometimes fall on their own. So you may wonder if you fell and think it was someone else’s fault — how do you prove this in court? An experienced slip and fall lawyer, can help you figure out how to offer proof in court.
Take Photos at the Scene of the Accident
If you are able to take photos the day you get injured, this is the best way to prove that negligence occurred. For example, if there is a wet floor without having a “wet floor” sign labeling the danger, you may have a great case. Be sure to take photos from several different angles to show the danger that existed and what the environment you fell in looked like at the time.
If you are not able to take photos because you are tending to your injuries, your slip and fall lawyer may go back to the scene of the accident to take photos to show the judge presiding over your case a visual of what the place looked like. This could be valuable if there was something in the way that caused you to trip and fall, like a loose floorboard or a bump in the floor without having a label to be careful. This is why you need to contact a lawyer as soon as the accident happens. You want to be able to collect any proof possible for your case. If you give the negligent party enough time, they may fix the issue before you can gather evidence.
Collect Witness Information
If there were any witnesses to your accident, you should collect their information and a statement, if possible. It can be beneficial to take a voice recording of them recalling the incident so that you can use this testimony in court at a later date. People often can forget important details of what happened, which is why collecting evidence at the scene of the accident can be crucial to winning your case. The witnesses will remember more details of what happened shortly after the accident, but may forget these crucial details later on. By gathering a written down or recorded statement, you may have something useful to use in court at a later date.
Go See Your Doctor
Even if you do not think you sustained bad injuries in the slip and fall, you should visit your primary care physician to get the incident on record. This can also prove to be useful if you do take your case to court. Your doctor can also speak up if your injuries end up being expensive or long lasting because of the incident that occurred.
Contact a Lawyer Today
Do not hesitate to retain legal assistance for your case. Contact a knowledgeable slip and fall lawyer right away so that you can begin working to get justice for your case.
