Should I Hire an Attorney for a Slip and Fall Claim?

In most cases, yes, you should hire a lawyer for a slip and fall claim. A lawyer is crucial in cases where you suffer serious injuries, your claim is denied, or the statute of limitations is nearly up. A Sacramento slip and fall accident lawyer can be of assistance.

You Have Serious Injuries

A slip and fall accident can cause serious injuries and, in some cases, permanent damage. In these cases, it is essential to hire a slip and fall lawyer who can help you build a strong claim that outlines all of your injuries and related losses. 

If you have any of the following types of injuries, this can prove to be critical.

• Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions
• Complex fractures and broken bones requiring surgical repair
• Spinal cord or spinal column damage, including paralysis
• Chronic pain development
• Internal organ injuries resulting in surgery
• Burns or other disfigurement
• Nerve damage

An attorney will learn about the severity of your injuries, their ongoing implications, and the associated financial costs. With an attorney’s depth of experience, along with their knowledge of how insurance companies try to limit compensation, you can feel confident that a Sacramento personal injury lawyer will protect your right to fair compensation.

Hire an Attorney When Your Slip and Fall Claim Is Denied

Your insurer could deny your claim. They may outright reject the total amount, or they may not pay you even a fraction of what you expect. There are many reasons this can happen, and your attorney can get to the bottom of the matter. Then, they will be able to find a legal strategy that reverses your limitations.

It is very common for insurance companies to deny claims for limited reasons, often making it harder for victims to recover the fair compensation they are owed. They may request significant details or medical records that they may not be legally required to have. Sometimes denials are a stall tactic, as well.

Your attorney will investigate why the insurance company denied your claim, determine what evidence is available to support the statements you made, and then work to reverse that denial.

Often, your attorney will be able to pursue compensation that is more robust than what you thought it would be. Even if you were denied, hire an attorney.

You Were Partially at Fault

Another reason to hire a slip and fall accident attorney relates to situations in which you may be partially at fault for the accident. Any limited amount of evidence that an insurance company has that proves that you were at fault, they will use. If they can show you were mostly at fault, which can be very subjective, they can avoid paying you anything.

With the guidance of an attorney, you can demonstrate that you were not at fault or that you were less at fault than the other party. That can become confusing quickly, but your lawyer will gather the evidence necessary to substantiate the claims. Your lawyer will also help you demonstrate why you still deserve compensation.

In situations where you have any fault in a slip and fall case, consult with a lawyer to find out what your legal rights are. Then, allow your lawyer to build a case on your behalf.

You Have Pre-Existing Injuries

Insurance companies often prefer to learn that a victim has pre-existing injuries related to the losses they incur from this incident. That gives them the ability to deny the claim and leave you to struggle.

They will use any element they can to demonstrate that you are suffering because of those preexisting conditions. Some examples may include:

• Previous care for back injuries
• Nerve-related damage
• Traumatic brain injuries in the past that caused changes in cognitive function
• Mobility loss or limitations
• Previous spinal cord injuries
• Previous neck or shoulder injuries

If you suffered a previous injury, but this slip and fall accident made it worse, you may still be able to pursue legal compensation for your losses.

However, you will benefit from a Sacramento catastrophic injury lawyer who can demonstrate that what you are facing now is not just a continuation or progression of your previous injury, but a new injury. That makes them at fault.

The Statute of Limitations Is Approaching

California law allows victims of a slip and fall accident two years to seek a lawsuit against the at-fault party for their losses. The deadlines to sue someone are critical. If you wait beyond that timeframe, the court is not likely to hear your case, and you may be unable to recover damages owed to you.

If that deadline is approaching, it is essential to consult a lawyer immediately for assistance. In most slip and fall accidents, it is not necessary to pursue legal action in a court of law, but instead to recover damages in a settlement.

Your lawyer will know how to quickly create a settlement and approach the insurance company for recovery within that time frame, but still allow enough time to file a lawsuit when needed.

More so, your lawyer has the resources and support to determine if you qualify for any exemptions to this two-year rule, depending on the specific situation.

If you were a minor at the time of the accident or you were unconscious for a period of time and could not take action, you may be able to file a claim even outside of that timeframe. A lawyer can help with this.

There Is No Cost to Hire an Attorney

One of the best reasons to hire an attorney for a slip and fall claim is that there are no risks in doing so. You only have to pay us if we win money for you. In that and many other ways, Your Triumph is Our Triumph.

At Triumph Law, we have decades of experience representing personal injury victims like you. There is no upfront cost to hire us, and free consultations are also available. Call today to get started.