Slips, Trips & Falls in NC Archives - Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp
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What needs to be done after a slip and fall injury?

The first thing you need to do is inspect the area where you fell. Important questions to try and answer include: What caused you to fall? Did anyone see you fall?
Get the phone number and e-mail of anyone in the general area where the incident occurred – both those who saw you fall, and others who were there after the fall – since they may be needed as witnesses on your behalf if the landowner potentially disputes your claim. Even if no one saw you actually fall, an individual could help describe your pain and the conditions of the area immediately after you fell.
If the incident occurred in a store or place of business, immediately speak with the manager or supervisor on duty. Have them document the incident, and get a copy of anything prepared by the business. If anyone suggests this type of incident occurred before, or they were aware of the condition before your fall, make a note and get the name and contact information of the individual who made that statement. This would potentially imply prior knowledge of the dangers associated with the area where you fell.
Even if the condition that caused your fall is permanent, or temporary (i.e. icy street), take photographs of the area as soon as possible so a record is available. Even”permanent conditions” could change if the landowner thinks you might file a claim for an injury.
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What if I slip and fall on my landlord’s property, at work, or at a public location like a mall? How does the location affect my claim?

Property owners should have some form liability insurance in the event someone is injured on their property.
You need to speak with an attorney regarding the severity of your injury and whether liability can be determined. An experienced attorney, like those working for Shapiro, Lewis, & Appleton would investigate and research who the responsible party is, and get details about the insurance coverage of the other party or their carrier that they may not be willing to provide to you directly.
A slip and fall injury commonly occurs at an apartment building. If the slip and fall injury occurred in a common area where the landlord has control such as a hallway, parking lot, elevator, etc. the landlord may be liable.
On the other hand, if the tenant who slipped and fell created the danger such as leaving items around the stairwell and it impedes another individual, then the tenant is liable.
As a tenant, you may be liable for injuries if someone slips on a loose and worn-down carpet in your apartment. Nevertheless, the landlord may share responsibility if they were aware of the loose carpet and failed to fix it.
Do not hesitate to make a claim against your landlord for fear of disturbing the relationship or facing eviction. This is a good reason why you need to get an injury lawyer to handle the matter more objectively.
Injuries at the workplace potentially have additional complications. In some instances, you can’t sue your supervisor.
A slip and fall injury at a public mall could be challenging when trying to determine who is at fault. This is because there are various levels of ownership and management. For example, there may be a store owner, a mall management company, and a corporate ownership entity. Again, an experienced attorney would be extremely helpful in determining which entity or company is at fault.
About the editors: The motto at Shapiro, Lewis, & Appleton law firm is simple -“All we do is injury law.” We hope you were able to find the answer to your injury query. If not, please review our North and South Carolina Accident Attorney FAQ library for additional information. If you’d like to speak to an actual attorney about your potential injury claim for free, please contact our office at (833) 997-1774.
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What happens if I injured myself on my friend’s property?

If your friend is owns a home, they probably have some type of homeowners insurance in order to protect themselves in case someone gets injured on the property.
If your friend is a renter, they may have renters insurance, or some type of “umbrella coverage,” for the same protection. “Umbrella coverage” is an extension of an individual’s home or auto insurance. In addition, if your friend is a renter, the land owner probably has insurance coverage for claims arising from injuries on the property.
About the editors: The motto at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharplaw firm is simple -“All we do is injury law.” We hope you were able to find the answer to your injury query. If not, please review our North and South Carolina Accident Attorney FAQ library for additional information. If you’d like to speak to an actual attorney about your potential injury claim for free, please contact our office at (833) 997-1774.
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