We expect to stay safe when we visit somebody else’s property. Whether you visit their home, office, or small business, you assume someone has taken care of the floors. Nobody expects to slip and fall or if you go to your friend’s place in the neighborhood, you believe that the friend is taking good care of the property. But what if that is not the case and you are injured on someone else’s property? What do you do then? There are several steps you should follow and we discuss the same in detail here.
Get medical help
The first and foremost thing to do is to get medical help right away. Even if you think you have not sustained any serious injuries, it is advisable to seek the help of a medical professional without wasting any more time. Some injuries may not show symptoms right away and you could feel fine now but it could lead to pain later. It could get worse if you do not show up to the doctor immediately. Be honest about everything that happened and let your doctor check the symptoms. Explain how and where you got injured, and make sure you also speak about all the pre-existing medical conditions you may have. It will help create the right medical record for you and will help with the right diagnosis and medication for your condition.
Identify the cause of the injury
You now need to figure out why you got hurt and there could be several reasons for the same. It could be an uneven walkway where you might have tripped or a sidewalk with a little part of concrete sticking out that caused an injury. You might have also gotten hurt by an animal or it could be due to a slippery floor at the business premises. No matter the cause, an injury is an injury and you need to identify why it happened. If you cannot find the right reason, speak to a professional.
Start documenting everything
While you are at it, start documenting everything. Once you visit the doctor, get a copy of the medical records. Once you have the bills, collect everything and track how much you have spent. You might have health insurance, but it helps to record all your spending. The expert premises liability lawyer at Stein Law states, “Take as many pictures and videos of the location as you can. This will work as evidence and the property owner would like to rectify the situation so that it doesn’t happen to anyone else. If you do not have any proof, you might not be able to prove your claim.”
Identify the reason you visited the property
It helps to have a legal reason to visit the property. If you went to a small business, ensure it was open and you had a right to visit there. Again, if you had gone to a friend’s house, you must have had an invitation. This will prove that you were not trespassing on the property. Since you got hurt and if you were trespassing, it will harm your claim. Ensure you had the right to visit the property, which is why you were there.
Reach out to a professional
Whether you want to file a claim, need answers to more questions, or want to know how to go about the process now, you will have to reach out to a professional. A premises liability professional is the right person to speak to, as they will ensure that you are on the premises legally and can file a claim. They will ask for records and proof but will also ask the property owner for documents related to the property. If they notice that the owners do not care for the property, the attorney will help them make a claim. They can also prove negligence, which led to your injuries and you could have a case.
There might be a lot going on in your head after an injury at someone else’s property but only a professional can help you and answer your questions. You should follow their advice and ensure you do not answer questions or sign anywhere unless your attorney asks you to do so. If you have been injured, you have every right to file a claim and seek compensation, and with a professional by your side, the entire process can become quick and stress-free for you. You do not have to go through it alone and some experts will be happy to speak to you and answer your questions even before you decide to work with them. Get medical help first and then start gathering proof, You can then contact the best professional to handle your case.
