While the Minnesota winter brings with it many seasonal opportunities, the colder weather conditions can also present some challenges for our health. Every winter we get an uptick in calls from clients who have been injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property. These slip and fall accidents can lead to some significant injuries, and if a property owner did not uphold their obligation to free the walking area from potential tripping hazards, you may have a legitimate claim to injury compensation.
When it comes to slip and fall compensation, you don’t just want to win an award, you want to maximize your claim and get fair value for your injuries. Doing this is easier said than done, but if you follow a few steps, you can put yourself in a good position to maximize your award. In today’s blog, we explain how to maximize your slip and fall injury claim.
Tips For Maximizing Your Slip And Fall Award
Even though a property owner or an employee may be very sympathetic to your injuries following a slip and fall on their property, do not expect their insurance provider to do the same. Insurance companies do everything they can to minimize their liability and limit your payout. That’s why it’s so important that you act swiftly and deliberately following a slip and fall accident. Here’s what you can do to give yourself a better chance at maximizing your claim award:
Seek Prompt Medical Care – If it’s obvious that you suffered an injury that warrants medical attention, you’ll probably head to a medical facility in short order. However, you should do the same even if the extent of your injuries isn’t as obvious. If you’re not sure if a bone is broken, or you hit your head pretty hard, go and have your injuries professionally assessed. You’re going to need to have your injuries documented by a medical professional, and the longer you wait to seek care, the more problems it can cause for your claim. The insurance company may assume you’re not as injured as you claim, or that you were actually hurt in a different manner. Don’t give them a reason to doubt the legitimacy of your claim.
Document The Scene – If possible, try to take pictures of the scene of the accident to give credence to your claims that the property owner was negligent in managing risks on their property. If there is a major wet spot in the foyer or a handrail was broken and it contributed to your fall, break out your smartphone and snap some pictures. The property owner may try to cover their tracks after an incident, but if you take pictures or get the contact information of anyone who witnessed your accident, it can help to prove your claim.
Connect With A Lawyer – Although an injury lawyer will take a small portion of your award for their work, you’re not going to be able to maximize your claim award without their assistance. Injury lawyers have decades of experience putting together strong claims for their clients, and they know how to position arguments in ways that help you get more for your injuries. There are so many different types of compensation that you can apply for given your injuries, your employment and other individual factors, and unless you have the knowledge of all the potential benefits you’re eligible for, you’re probably going to leave money on the table if you pursue compensation on your own. Oftentimes a lawyer will more than pay for their services by securing their clients much more than they would have been able to achieve on their own.
Patience – We understand that your financial situation may take a hit after a fall that results in medical bills and forces you to miss time from work while you recover, but you need to remain patient throughout the process. Insurance companies love to prey on a person’s financial vulnerability and desire to come to a settlement agreement, so they typically send out lowball settlement offers during the initial stages of negotiations. Always run any offer by your lawyer, and work with them to come up with a more reasonable counteroffer based on the facts of the case. If you show that you’re willing to push back or even take the matter to court, you can likely get a much better offer from the insurance company. It won’t be easy, but try to remain patient throughout the process.
If you keep the above tips in mind and you trust your legal case to a dedicated team of experienced legal professionals like Hey Workers, we’re confident you’ll be putting yourself in a great position to maximize your injury award. For more information, or to talk to a lawyer about your injury case, give our firm a call today at (844) 439-9675.
