When you enter a store, you expect the inside area to be safe and free of hazards. However, each year there are instances where customers slip and fall while walking down an aisle. In most cases, they do so because the store failed to clean up a puddle caused by a spill or because store employees failed to properly block off a hazardous area with warning signs. Due to the negligence and carelessness of the store, the result is a customer who is facing serious injuries to their back, neck, or head, as well as possibly broken bones and severe lacerations. If you are facing such a situation, here is what you should do next.
Get Medical Treatment
If you slip and fall inside a store, do not immediately get up and assume you are not injured. Time after time, individuals in these situations assume nothing is wrong other than a slight ache or pain, only to find themselves in a hospital ER hours later with complications from concussions or other injuries. Thus, it is best to always seek immediate medical treatment to not only protect your health, but also have immediate documentation of your injuries.
Take Photos of the Scene
If possible, take photos of the scene yourself or have someone who was with you do this as quickly as possible. By doing so, you will have evidence of the spill that led to your accident, making it virtually impossible for the store to deny it was negligent and careless in its handling of the situation.
Hire an Attorney
When you are injured in such a situation, it is important to hire a skilled personal injury attorney as soon as you can. By doing so, the attorney can examine the evidence, provide you with an objective opinion, and advise you how to proceed. In addition, since many of these cases never make it to trial, your attorney may be able to negotiate with the store to reach an out-of-court settlement on your behalf. By doing so, you can gain compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.