Large stores can often be crowded and full of pandemonium when there’s a sale. Those times are the inopportune moments when a customer could slip and fall on a hazard that shouldn’t have been there.
If you were a victim of a slip and fall accident in a department store and you are sure it was not your fault, you may be entitled to a personal injury claim.
Taking steps to file a claim of this type can help to cover the cost of medical treatment, loss of wages, and the effects of the pain and suffering you have had to endure in an accident that was not your fault.
What You May Be Entitled To
Depending on the type and extent of your injuries in the slip and fall, there are several damages you may be eligible to claim, and these include:
- The cost of medical treatment. Any injury that is severe enough to warrant a damages claim means that the cost of medical treatment is probably high. In order to get the most compensation, you should keep a record of the extent and cost of any medical treatment.
- Lost earnings, past or present. If an accident meant required you to take time off work for both medical treatment and for recovery, there may be a lot to claim in compensation for lost earnings.
- Damage to your property. For example, if your slip and fall in an elevator caused you to smash your watch beyond repair, you may be able to get compensation to cover the purchase of a replacement.
- Pain and suffering. This is not easy to calculate, but if your injury is preventing you from enjoying life, this can be converted into a cash payment for pain and suffering.
All of these could end up being variables in settling your slip and fall claim.
How an Attorney Can Help
The most important thing about a damages claim is calculating its true value. Medical bills can be read easily but future medical costs need to be calculated. The pain and suffering component is the most difficult to determine.
This is the time when help from a personal injury attorney is essential so that an accurate claim can be filed. Personal injury lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis, so they don’t charge anything until a fair settlement has been reached.
*Disclaimer
The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Kmart, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
