If you have a slip and fall on the property of a business, you should report it to someone who works there – preferably a manager or someone else with authority. This will lead to an incident report being made about your fall, and someone from the store investigating it. This is important for two reasons. The first is it will make sure that the defective condition that caused your fall will be addressed so it does not cause anyone else to fall and get hurt. The second is, if you do decide to file a claim, it can provide proof from a business’ own employees that you did have a fall, and there was a defective condition (such as ice, liquid, or other type of slippery substance) that caused your fall. This is especially important if you fell while walking on your own, or the only people who witnessed your fall were random people you do not know personally.
Also, while a business will usually take photos of what caused you to fall, you may want to take your own photos if you are able. This can both be helpful in pointing out to the business what the defect is that needs to be fixed, but also in showing what caused you to fall if you do decide to file a claim. In today’s day and age – with most people having cell phones that can take photos and video – juries expect there to be some pictures or video of the accident.
If you have questions about a slip and fall accident you had and are thinking of filing a claim, the attorneys at the Thistle Firm are here to answer them at 215-525-6824.