Was someone else responsible for your slip and fall accident?

If you slip and fall on someone else’s property, you may think you have to “suck it up” and deal with the aftermath. However, this is not always the case.

In situations where your slip and fall was caused by the neglect of property owners or occupiers, you may be able to file a premises liability claim and recover damages. The question is – how do you know if someone else is responsible?

Determining liability after a slip and fall accident

The first step in determining if someone else is liable for your accident and injuries is to determine if they were legally bound to the property in some way. This means they owned the property, were leasing it or operating it. If this is the case, then that person is responsible for things that occur.

You must also show that you were on the property legally. For example, if you were trespassing, you would not be allowed to file a claim against the property owner (there are some exceptions to this).

If the first two elements are proven, you must show that the property owner’s negligence led to your injuries. An example of this is if you were in a store and the floor was wet, but no signs were posted. If the owner or occupier knew of the issue and did not fix it, they acted negligently. You must also show your specific injuries by seeking medical treatment immediately after the incident.

Recovering compensation after a slip and fall accident

For some, a slip-and-fall accident is embarrassing. They may want to avoid bringing attention to themselves. However, if you are injured, you may be due compensation. Get to know your legal rights to collect damages in these situations.