We see them so often we may not even notice them: bright yellow signs that say “WET FLOOR” in grocery aisles, at the doors of public bathrooms, and anywhere else in a shopping plaza, airport, and other public and semi-public spaces. While these signs are ostensibly meant to protect visitors out of the goodness of the owners’ hearts, they are also intended to limit or avoid liability in the event of a slip and fall accident due to the wet flooring. These types of accidents are just one example of many “premises liability” issues that can lead to a property owner being sued by someone injured due to avoidable hazards and maintenance issues.
Hiring an attorney after a slip and fall on a wet accident is one of the recommended steps that you should take after getting your medical needs addressed because an attorney can help you understand your legal options and represent you through an insurance claim or lawsuit. Getting the money you deserve from an insurance company is much more complicated than simply filing a claim, and seeking compensation directly from an entity that does not have an insurance policy that covers your accident can quickly become contentious. Instead of worrying about the legal hoops you may need to jump through, your slip and fall lawyer can take them on for you.
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Why Hire an Attorney After a Wet Floor Accident?
If you are hurt on someone else’s property, there is a good chance they will have some sort of homeowner’s or commercial insurance in place to protect them from direct financial liability for your damages.
You might be surprised that filing an insurance claim is a fairly straightforward process, and once a claims adjuster is assigned to your case they will be able to lead you through the investigation as they calculate a fair settlement. So, why bother hiring an attorney?
The reality of an insurance claim is that the insurance company does not want to pay you what you actually deserve, and the claims investigation gives the adjuster ample time to identify every possible reason to reduce the final amount you are awarded. Without having professional working experience with these claims, it can be difficult to push back and get the money you actually deserve. Your attorney will be able to perform their own investigation into the actual damages you have suffered and will be able to counter the insurance company’s initial offer with a counter-offer of their own. At this point, there will typically be a period of negotiation in order to close the (often substantial) gap between these two amounts that your attorney will lead. That’s one of the reasons why it’s essential that you file an incident report at the establishment where it occurred for documentation. Your attorney can use the report to strengthen your case and negotiate a better settlement.
While your personal injury lawyer is taking up the majority of work for the insurance claim, you will be able to give attention to your recovery and get yourself back on track without the added stress. You will also be able to consult with your attorney about your fears and anxieties about things like your medical bills and lost wages, where they will be able to put your mind at ease and give you insight into the settlement negotiation process. When people do not have an experienced attorney representing them, it can be easy to panic during negotiations and accept a low settlement just to have something to put towards their losses and bills, and the insurance company relies on this panic to pay as little as they can to fully settle any given claim.