Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney to Start Your Case

If you have been injured on someone else's property, you should consider contacting a personal injury attorney. Unless you are positive that you could have gotten the same injuries when walking anywhere else, it may be the responsibility of the owner of the property, whether it is a commercial or residential area. The point of getting legal help is to make sure that your medical costs are covered, and that the same issue does not happen to anyone else. Consider how to go about such a case.

Depending on what caused you to get hurt, you may have either a slip and fall case or a trip and fall case. Many lawyers cover both types of cases since they are so similar, but some do specialize, so think about which type it is. For example, if the floor was slippery, whether due to rain, snow, or a spilled substance, you may have a slip and fall case. This is because it is typically the property owner's job to make sure the mess is cleaned up so that no one gets hurt, so as long as it could have been prevented with some care on their part, you could have a good case. On the other hand, if you tripped over an item, such as a rock, tear in a rug, or any obstacle in your way, you probably have a trip and fall case. Find the appropriate personal injury attorney to determine the strength of your accusation.

It is important not to talk to the property owner or his lawyer, as you may end up implicating yourself. For example, if you mention that you are clumsy or cannot see well anymore, or otherwise blame yourself, you may ruin your chances of having a strong lawsuit. You should be prepared to answer several questions from the property owner's lawyer, but this will not be until you have talked to your personal injury attorney to determine your defense.

Remember that the point of the lawsuit is not to get rich, but to pay for your medical costs. On the other hand, just covering your exact medical bills may not be fair to you. If you had to miss work or quit completely, you need to be compensated for this, as long as you can prove that you were unable to work due to the injury. Permanent injuries, no matter how minor, will need future medical care, so you need to be compensated for this, too. If you suffered embarrassment or your family suffered, too, then you may deserve payment for this. In addition, the lawsuit should teach the property owner to take better care of the house or building so that nobody else gets hurt in the future.

You should think about these points as you choose a personal injury attorney so that you know what to expect during the legal process. Note that most lawsuits take months or even years to settle, so you may need to pay for your hospital or doctor bills and then get reimbursed. Talk to an attorney as soon as possible to get started.