Preparing for a Successful Slip and Fall Consultation

Preparing for a Successful Slip and Fall Consultation Slipping and falling is an inconvenient, and slightly painful, incident at best. In fact, a slip and fall that is not serious may even leave you chuckling, and retelling the incident with a laugh to family and friends later on. But sometimes, a slip and fall is not as comical; slip and fall accidents can be severe, and leave a person with consequential injuries, including soft tissue injuries, broken bones, spinal injuries, back and neck injuries, lacerations, and traumatic brain injuries. For these people, filing a personal injury case against the party responsible for the slip and fall accident may be the best way to recover compensation for injuries. Knowing whether or not you have a case, whether or not your case is worth it, what the process for filing slip and fall cases in Florida is, and how much you can recover, however, is not always clear. To help you answer all of these questions and learn everything there is to know about slip and fall cases, a free consultation with a slip and fall lawyer is advised. Here are some tips for preparing for a successful slip and fall consultation:

Come Prepared with the Right Documents

When meeting with a slip and fall lawyer in Brooksville, FL, you want to be sure to come prepared with the right documents; the more that you can give the attorney from the get-go, the better the attorney will be able to give you an informed opinion about your case and your claim’s chances of success. Some important documents to bring include:

• Medical bills and records. If you have received any medical treatment for injuries related to your slip and fall accident, you should thoroughly document it, and share this documentation with the attorney during your free slip and fall consultation. This will give the attorney an idea of the types of economic damages that you may be able to recover, as well as proof of any long-term debilitation or disability.
• Photographic evidence. Hopefully, you have taken some pictures of your injuries and the exact location where your slip and fall occurred, as well as anything else relevant to your accident. Photographic evidence will be thoroughly reviewed by the attorney and their investigative team in order to make an informed determination about how the accident occurred and the property owner’s negligence, pain you suffered, and more.
• Any other evidence. If you have any other evidence that you can share with the attorney, bring it to your consultation. This might include the names of witnesses to the accident, doctors with whom you have worked and have assessed/treated your injuries, the name(s) of the police officer or paramedics who responded to the slip and fall accident scene, and more.

In addition to coming prepared with the right documents, you should also come ready to discuss your medical history, the treatment you have received for your injuries, how the accident and injury have affected your life, and a detailed account of what happened.

Ask the Right Questions

In addition to sharing all information pertinent to you and your injury with the attorney, you will also have the opportunity to ask the attorney questions about their experience, education, the claim process, and more. Some important questions to ask include:

• How many slip and fall cases have you handled? You want to work with an attorney who is experienced in the practice area that is related to your injury – slip and fall (and premises liability law). Hiring an attorney who specializes in a different type of personal injury law, such as car accidents, but not slip and fall, is not within your best interests.
• How many cases have you won? Another important question that you want to learn the answer to right off the bat is how many cases the attorney has actually won; an attorney who has represented clients in 100 slip and fall claims, but has only been successful in five of those, does not have a great track record.
• How much do you charge? Do not hire an attorney without finding out exactly how they are planning on charging you; doing so may end up costing you an arm and a leg in the long run. Rather than hiring an attorney who works on an hourly fee basis, or who requires a retainer fee, you should hire an attorney whose fees are contingent on your case being settled in your favor. In a contingent fee system, you will owe the attorney a percentage of your winnings, and never have to pay for services up front.
• Is my personal injury case worth it? Finally, ask the attorney what they think about your case’s chances. If you have shared all relevant information and evidence with the attorney about your slip and fall, they should have a pretty good idea about approximately how much money you may be able to get, and how long the process will take.

When Seeking a Free Case Consultation Makes Sense

 If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident and have suffered damages, tangible or intangible, you should meet with an attorney to discuss your case. Even if you do not think your claim is worth it, a legal professional can offer a more informed opinion on how much your case is really worth. An attorney can also guide you through tough legal concepts, like negligence and comparative negligence (read more about Florida’s laws for negligence/comparative fault in Section 768.81 of the 2015 Florida Statutes).

Contact Our Experienced Premises Liability Lawyers Today

 At the Holliday Karatinos Law Firm, PLLC, we understand how scary a slip and fall accident can be, and how overwhelming it can be to know what to do in the aftermath. When you call our law firm to schedule a free case consultation, we will happily sit down with you to go over all of your options and explain what we believe to be the best course of action. If you are unable to travel to our location, we will happily travel to yours. Call our premises liability lawyers today to get to work on improving your future!