One of the leading causes of personal injuries in Riverhead is negligence by property owners and property managers. When proper care is not given to the premises or the people on it, victims should contact our lawyers to help hold the negligent party accountable in a legal claim.
Some slip and fall victims are reluctant to file a lawsuit after an accident since they likely do not know where to find evidence or feel confident talking to insurance companies. That is what our team is here to do. We will walk you through every aspect of your case, including what evidence we will use to prove it. Our lawyers will start by gathering accident reports, requesting surveillance footage, and speaking to eyewitnesses. The sooner we begin your case, the more likely you will recover the compensation you need for your recovery.
Call The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083 today for a free case review with our slip and fall lawyers.
What to Expect When You File a Lawsuit for Slip and Fall Injuries in Riverhead, NY
Slip and fall accidents are often much more serious than people think. Property owners, residential renters, and businesses renting commercial properties are responsible for ensuring their locations are safe for guests and anyone else reasonably expected to be there. When they fail to do this, our slip and fall lawyers can help you prepare and file your lawsuit. From the moment we begin your claim, we can explain what to expect as your case progresses, like the time limit to file, how evidence will be used, and whether settling your case is the right choice.
The Accident Itself
Slip and fall accidents can occur virtually anywhere in Riverhead but rarely happen without negligence. After leaving to seek medical attention, you may not have the chance to return to the scene. Therefore, it is important to thoroughly photograph the entire area, including anything that caused or contributed to the accident. These images can serve as valuable evidence for our lawyers to establish the defendant’s negligence.
If you need medical assistance or require help reporting your fall to the property owner, do not hesitate to call 911. This will connect you with local law enforcement and paramedics who can provide immediate support. We can help you get copies of any reports and records from the property owner, the police, and emergency services, ensuring you have all the necessary documentation to start your claim.
Evidence Preservation and Collection
It is crucial for our legal team to begin the investigation immediately. The sooner we can collect and secure evidence, the more likely we will preserve critical evidence, particularly since evidence can be easily lost or destroyed following slip and fall accidents. For example, property owners might deliberately erase surveillance camera footage that recorded the incident or deny the footage after victims request it. Our attorneys are prepared to take the required actions to obtain any security video, as it can be extremely significant to your case if it shows what happened step-by-step.
Our team will also gather additional evidence, including eyewitness statements. If you notice witnesses at the accident scene, take down their contact information and share these details with our attorneys. This way, we can arrange interviews promptly. Delaying conversations with eyewitnesses often leads to less reliable memories over time, costing you important evidence that can support your claims.
Our lawyers will also collect medical records from the hospitals, healthcare providers, and specialists involved in your recovery. These records are vital, as they outline the timeline of your injuries, detailing when they occurred and the exact nature of those injuries. Furthermore, we will include information on the medical care you have received to date, including any surgeries performed, physical therapy sessions attended, and medications prescribed. By gathering this information, our team can create a detailed overview of your medical journey, which is essential for evaluating your recovery and anticipating future needs.
Filing Your Lawsuit
To officially start your injury lawsuit following a falling accident, you must file a complaint in court. Generally, you have three years from the date of the slip and fall to do this, as per C.V.P. Law § 214(5), unless there are tolling exceptions like delayed discovery or if the victim is a minor. While our lawyers prepare your lawsuit, we will identify the exact date for the statute of limitations to ensure you do not lose your chance to seek compensation from the responsible property owner.
Negotiating Your Settlement or Going to Trial
Unlike what pop culture portrays, the vast majority of slip and fall lawsuits conclude not in a grand trial but with a negotiated settlement. Property owners do not want to pay any more money than they have to, so they will typically not risk throwing more away on a trial they are very likely to lose.
That said, you should be hesitant to accept the first or even subsequent offers. The quality of a settlement offer is not in the speed at which it is sent but the damages that it covers. Let us assume that your lawsuit went to court and was successful. You would be awarded medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and all the other damages proved during the trial. If a settlement offer does not reasonably attempt to address all the damages we demand, it should be rejected. We can either send a counteroffer or wait for them to make a new one, but ultimately, the choice is yours.
We can also instruct you on the strength of your claim so that you do not risk losing compensation in a trial. Sometimes, a good settlement agreement is better than risking everything in court. For instance, if liability is still a close call after gathering all the evidence in your case, it might not be worth leaving the question to a jury.
Contact Our Slip and Fall Lawyers in Riverhead, NY Today for Help Getting Compensation for Your Injuries
For a free case evaluation with our slip and fall attorneys, contact The Carrion Law Firm today at (718) 841-0083.