What to Do After Slip-And-Fall in a Store in Charleston

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What to Do After Slip-And-Fall in a Store in Charleston

Slip-and-fall can happen in nearly any store. Improperly stacked merchandise or stacked in aisles, wet or slick spots, and damaged flooring are three hazards that can hurt someone in a Charleston retail store.

slip-and-fall sign in a charleston retail store

With more than 20 grocery stores in the Charleston area, the potential for slipping and falling is higher than other retail stores. Water, grease, or dropped food create slipping hazards. Sticky, uneven, cracked, or broken floors, poor lighting, and cluttered aisles are also dangerous to customers.

Roughly 25,000 people per day experience a slip-and-fall accident in a store. When a simple shopping excursion turns into a trip to the hospital, what you do next will make all the difference.

You Slipped And Fell. What’s Next?

Your priority is to get medical attention as quickly as possible. But if you are able, before you leave the store:

• Ask store employees or bystanders for assistance

• Take pictures of the area where you had the accident and any substances that caused your fall—oil, water, etc.

• Photograph your injuries

• Notify the manager of your accident and injuries

• Ask for any written documentation

o Don’t sign anything unless you can verify the contents for yourself

• Look around for surveillance cameras and request a copy of the video

• Get contact information from any witnesses for a statement later

Once you have what you need, you’ll be ready to meet with your attorney.

What Not To Do

In the moments after the accident, you have no idea if or how badly you’ve been hurt. You may have anything from a sprained ankle to a skull fracture. There’s no way to know until you see a doctor. Until help arrives, don’t stand up, walk around, or even move too much. If you are seriously injured, you could make things worse, especially if you have a head injury. Stay put, and wait for help.

You should call 911 immediately if you believe your injuries are anything more than minor. This not only gets you help immediately, but it will document your accident and show that it was the cause of your injuries. Even minor injuries should be seen by a doctor right away.

Once you’ve seen a doctor, follow the prescribed treatment and keep all appointments. Don’t go back to work without clearance or do anything that could make your injuries worse. If you do file a lawsuit, the other party could argue that your injuries were not that serious since you didn’t keep the appointments or went back to work sooner than your doctor allowed.

Don’t wait to talk to a Charleston personal injury attorney. Once you’ve returned home from the hospital, speak with legal counsel right away. You will receive calls and communications from the other party’s legal team and/or insurance companies. They are calling to try and settle your claim quickly and for as little as possible. Refer these calls to your attorney, and do not give them any information. Your attorney will handle the investigation, negotiations, and settlement of your claim.

Don’t try to handle the claim on your own. If your injuries are serious, and you’ve lost work time and money, you may never recover the full amount without help. A personal injury attorney understands the law and will work to get you a fair settlement for your losses.

The Love Law Firm Can Help With Your Slip-And-Fall Claim

We’ve been helping West Virginians for over 25 years with all types of personal injuries, including slip-and-fall accidents. We’ve helped thousands of West Virginians who needed our assistance and experience to handle their claims.

If you’ve experienced a slip-and-fall accident in a store in Charleston and need help, contact us at The Love Law Firm, or call us at (304) 344 5683. Your consultation is free, and we only collect if we win your case.

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