Slipping and falling in public can be much more than just an embarrassing experience. A fall in a public place, such as an Alabama store, can lead to injuries and other consequences that may not be your fault. In fact, you could be a victim of negligent maintenance and other factors beyond your control, and other parties could be liable for what happened to you. When you are the victim of a slip-and-fall accident, there are legal options available that may allow you to pursue justice.
A slip-and-fall accident could be grounds for a civil claim. If you believe this is the most beneficial course of action for you, it is prudent to act quickly to learn about the specific legal options available to you. One of the first steps in a successful civil claim is to identify the factors that played a role in your accident and potential liable parties.
Who or what is to blame?
It is not always easy to identify a potential liable party in a slip-and-fall accident claim. In order to have a valid claim, you must be able to prove that your accident in a store was the result of negligence or reckless behaviors on the part of the property owner. The best way to validate your claim depends on the details of the individual situation, but it likely includes medical bills and witness statements. The success of your claims depends on proving one of the following:
- There is evidence the owner created the dangerous property condition.
- The owner knew there was a potentially dangerous condition and did not address it.
- The condition existed long enough for the owner to know of its existence and address the problem.
If there is valid evidence of any of the following, you could have grounds for a lawsuit against the store or the owner of the property where the accident took place.
Picking up the pieces and moving forward
Picking up the pieces after a slip-and-fall accident is not always easy. You may assume that your accident was the result of your own reckless behavior or clumsiness, but it is possible you are a victim of failure to properly maintain property conditions and other forms of negligence. It will be beneficial to learn about the most prudent steps forward by taking action as soon as possible after your accident.
