Because slip-and-fall accidents can result in serious injuries, it’s important for victims to get legal representation as soon as possible. Property owners often deny liability for these accidents and injuries, and without a lawyer on their side, it’s common for victims to end up paying for their injury-related expenses out of pocket.
If you’re thinking about hiring a slip-and-fall lawyer to handle your injury claim, you may be wondering how the process works and what your lawyer will do to help you get compensation. While each slip-and-fall injury claim is different, most follow a similar path throughout the investigation process.
In this blog, we’ll explore that process to help you understand how your lawyer is working for you and what you can expect every step of the way.
8 Steps Your Lawyer Will Take to Build Your Claim
When we build slip-and-fall claims at Parrish DeVaughn, we follow these eight critical steps to maximize our clients’ chances of getting full compensation.
1. Gathering Evidence from the Scene
We begin a slip-and-fall investigation by collecting as much evidence as possible from the accident scene. This includes visiting the location to inspect and document any hazards that may have contributed to the fall. We also take photographs and videos of dangerous conditions such as wet floors, uneven pavement, poor lighting, broken steps, or missing handrails.
If the accident occurred in a business or public space, we check for security cameras and request any available surveillance footage. Preserving this evidence is essential, as property owners may attempt to fix the hazard after the incident, making it more challenging to prove negligence.
2. Interviewing Witnesses
Witness testimony can be a powerful tool in proving fault. We speak with people who witnessed the accident or were aware of the hazardous condition beforehand.
By collecting written or recorded statements, we can strengthen our client’s case with independent accounts that confirm the dangerous conditions. In some situations, employees or tenants may provide important information about whether the hazard had been reported previously, how long it existed, or whether management ignored prior complaints.
3. Reviewing Incident Reports
If an accident report was filed at the time of the fall, we obtain a copy and review its details carefully. Many businesses, apartment complexes, and public spaces have procedures for documenting incidents, and these reports can provide important information about what happened, who was involved, and what actions were taken afterward. Analyzing these reports helps us determine whether the property owner or management was aware of the hazard and how they responded.
4. Examining Medical Records
We gather medical records from emergency room visits, doctor evaluations, diagnostic tests, and treatment plans to establish the link between the accident and our client’s injuries. We also consult with medical experts to assess their injuries’ severity and long-term effects. By building a strong medical record, we can show the full extent of our client’s suffering and its impact on their daily life and ability to work.
5. Determining Liability
We analyze property ownership and management records of the location where our client was injured to determine who was legally responsible for maintaining safe conditions. We also review maintenance logs, cleaning schedules, and safety policies to identify any lapses in duty. If the property owner, landlord, business, or government entity failed to address known hazards or neglected regular inspections, we work to hold them (and/or their insurer) financially accountable for our client’s injuries.
6. Analyzing Local Laws and Building Codes
We examine local building codes, safety regulations, and ADA compliance laws to determine whether any legal violations contributed to the accident. Slips and falls due to poor property design, improper maintenance, or failure to meet safety standards is often considered strong evidence of negligence. In some cases, we even work with building inspectors and safety experts to get professional assessments that reinforce our findings of negligence and strengthen our clients’ claims.
7. Calculating Damages
We carefully calculate our client’s damages by reviewing their current and future medical expenses, current and future lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and any long-term care they’ll require. We also account for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering or reduced quality of life. It’s our goal to ensure our clients get fair and full settlements to cover all of their injury-related expenses—not just the ones they’re facing when they contact us.
8. Negotiating with Insurance Companies
Once we’ve gathered all the necessary evidence, we present a demand package to the responsible party’s insurance company. This includes detailed documentation of the accident, proof of liability, and a calculation of all related damages.
During this process, we negotiate aggressively while countering any attempts by the insurer to undervalue or deny our client’s claim. Our experience in handling insurance companies and their tactics helps give our clients peace of mind while they focus on getting better. And if the insurance company refuses to pay our client a fair settlement, we don’t hesitate to take their case to trial to help them get the money they deserve.
Get Our Experienced Oklahoma City Slip-and-Fall Injury Lawyers on Your Side
Time is of the essence after a slip-and-fall injury. Evidence can quickly disappear, making it difficult to definitively prove the property owner’s negligence. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can start collecting evidence and building your claim.
Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers is ready to help, and our Oklahoma City slip-and-fall injury attorneys have the track record of success you need to maximize your chances of success. Contact us today for a free case review.
