Is it necessary to hire a personal injury lawyer for a slip and fall accident?
If you tell us to give a one-word answer to this question, the answer is definitely ‘No’. You don’t require seeking the assistance of an attorney in case of a slip and fall accident. It is possible to file a PI claim or even a lawsuit on your own, arbitrate a settlement and also represent yourself in court.
But you might face a huge challenge if you choose to fight with the owner of the property, an insurance company, and the other lawyers. It can be pretty tough to litigate the slip and fall cases as the fault isn’t always clear. This is when a property owner can defend the case by saying that it was the victim’s carelessness that led to the fall.
As per the American Bar Association, there are 3 among 5 people that represent themselves in civil court without the help of an injury lawyer. At the same time, there are many others who think representing themselves in court has too many disadvantages. Keep reading to know more about what to do in case of slip and fall accidents.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Do you know what slip and fall accidents are? Slip and fall accidents occur due to the negligence of the property owner in different locations, like:
- Restaurants
- Shopping malls
- Government offices
- Parking garages
- Apartment buildings
- Malls
- Hotels
Sometimes, slip and fall accidents can lead to permanent and critical injuries like fractures and brain injuries. You could even hold the owner of the property responsible for your losses like loss of wage, medical bills, and other expenses.
In what way does an attorney help you?
There are personal injury attorneys that work on a contingency fee basis with slip and fall cases. For the client, he doesn’t have to pay any kind of upfront fee, and hence there’s no risk. When the lawyer works on a contingency fee basis, he gets paid only when he wins the case and obtains the settlement. Here are a few other ways an attorney can help you:
- He offers legal advice: The attorney can give you advice on the legal options available to you. He tells you about the next step to get compensation and justice.
- He establishes negligence: If the attorney can prove that the owner of the property was negligent, he can win the case for you. Nevertheless, you should establish the at-fault party with adequate evidence. He determines the accident and gathers the required evidence.
- He calculates the damages caused: One more step in making the negligent party accountable for your losses is by proving the damages. In case you’re hoping to recover compensation, this is important. An experienced lawyer can assess your past, present, and future damages and also calculate them.
Therefore, if you are subject to crucial damage after a slip and fall accident and you wish to file a lawsuit, you should certainly get professional help.