Texas Slip and Fall Atttorneys

Every year in the U. S., over 8.5 million people are injured from falls, and another 35,000 succumb to their fall-related injuries. Considering that slip and falls are highly preventable, these numbers are a far cry from what they should be. Too many falls happen at the hands of others who are negligent. These falls can happen nearly anywhere, on both private and public property. Some are in homes, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and others might occur in the mall or in grocery stores such as HEB or the Family Dollar. 

No matter where a fall occurs, if someone else contributed to the cause, the injured party is entitled to receive compensation for their damages. It's in their best interest to have a Brazoria County slip and fall attorney review their claim and help them determine what their next steps should be.

Liability in Slip and Fall Claims

Slip and fall claims can be challenging to prove. Many people involved in slip and fall claims hire an experienced Brazoria County slip and fall lawyer to help them prove that the property owner was negligent and that is what caused their injuries.

One of the keys to getting the best possible outcome is proving that the property owner or an agent acting on their behalf knew or should have reasonably known that a dangerous condition existed. Furthermore, the injured party must show that they did nothing to fix it, warn about it, or otherwise keep them safe from the hazardous condition. 

If there are witnesses or surveillance footage to prove that the property owner knew of the danger but did nothing, this will help prove your claim. Without this type of evidence, proving their negligence can be a problem. It might come down to their word against yours, which is why you need representation from a skilled Brazoria County slip and fall attorney.

Suppose another grocery store customer spilled some cooking oil on the floor and walked away. Surveillance footage shows her informing an employee of the spill. It also shows another employee walk by the spill, looks down, and keep on going. Shortly after that, you enter that aisle and slip on the oil and fall. 

In this case, the property owner would likely be liable. It was their employees' duty to either clean up the spill within a reasonable timeframe or at least place a wet floor sign next to the spill to warn other customers. If they had done so, you wouldn't have slipped and fell. However, suppose there isn't surveillance footage or eyewitnesses. In that case, there's really no way to tell how long the spill had been there and if the employees knew about it or not. 

What to Do After a Slip and Fall in a Grocery Store

What you do and don't do in the first few minutes and even days after a slip and fall can significantly impact the success of your claim. Here's what you need to do after a slip and fall:

• Request help from a nearby employee or another shopper. If you believe you need an ambulance, you can call from your own phone or ask someone else to call.

• Seek medical attention. Even if you don't call an ambulance to receive treatment at the scene of your fall or go to the hospital, it's still crucial to seek same-day medical attention. Tell your medical provider precisely where, when, and how you were injured.

• Make a report of the accident. If you can, report your fall to the property owner or manager before leaving the location. Provide a detailed description of the accident. Tell the property owner how you fell and became injured. Don't make fill-in details you are uncertain about, make assumptions, or exaggerate.

• Don't sign any waivers. If you are presented with waivers or any other types of agreements to sign, don't sign them. Without a knowledgeable Brazoria County slip and fall lawyer present to represent your interests, you might be signing away your right to a personal injury claim.

• Take photographs. Look carefully around the area where you fell. Take photos of this area and the surrounding area. Pictures and videos can show the cause of your fall. They are substantial evidence of the property owner's liability.

• Talk to any witnesses. If possible, obtain the contact info for anyone who observed your slip and fall. Get their names, phone numbers, email addresses, and mailing addresses. Your Brazoria County slip and fall attorney can contact them at a later date to interview them about what they saw.

• Document the event in writing. While it's fresh in your mind, write down what you remember about your slip and fall. Be sure to include what you were doing before, during, and after the fall. You might find it easiest to make notes on your phone shortly after the fall and put them in writing later.

• Save clothing and other possible evidence. Keep the clothes you wore when the accident occurred and anything you were carrying. Bloodied or torn clothes, broken glasses, or other damaged personal effects will provide evidence of the severity of your injury and your pain and suffering.

Schedule a Consultation with an Experienced Brazoria County Slip and Fall Attorney

Slip and fall accidents leave injured people and their families overwhelmed, confused, and in pain. They often wonder how they will pay their medical bills or make up for their lost wages. At TX Injury Group, we understand and respect the difficulties you face during this time of recovery. When you hire us, we will stand by your side, providing strong advocacy for your legal rights. Our Brazoria County slip and fall attorneys work hard to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Even in challenging slip and fall claims, we go the extra mile to prove liability and damages. 

If you were injured in a slip and fall accident, give us a call today. We offer complimentary legal consultations with a Brazoria County slip and fall lawyer.