You can get into an accident while crossing someone’s yard or on any property. If you get into one because you failed to see the warning sign put up by the owner, you are the one to blame. However, if you say you slipped and fell on someone’s porch because of a loose floorboard that the property owner failed to fix on time, you have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit against them.
Proving Slip and Fall Negligence
However, to claim premise liability against the owners, you need to prove their negligence caused the accident and subsequent injuries. In other words, you need to collect evidence proving they knew about the state of that porch and failed to make repairs in a timely manner.
In such cases, with the help of a skilled attorney, you can prove that a reasonable individual would have resulted in an accident and would have taken measures to fix it. To claim damages, you need to prove the defendant failed to act reasonably to prevent your injuries. To receive compensation, you should collect and present the following evidence in court.
Photographs of The Accident Site
Take several pictures of the site of the accident from several different angles. This will help you document the area where you fell. Do this immediately after you fall. If you are unable due to your pain and suffering, ask a witness or a friend to do it for you. If you wait too long, the owner of the property may fix the damaged area, making it more difficult to pursue a claim.
Get Witness Testimonies
If you have a friend with you, get them to testify in court about the accident and what they witnessed. This includes details on how you fell and what the area that caused your fall looked like. This is important because a witness can determine whether you were partially responsible for the accident or not. For instance, if there were no warning signs, you were not fooling around or running on the porch, they can say you were not to blame.
Get Video Surveillance Footage
If there are video cameras around the property, get the footage of the accident immediately. The video will let the judge know exactly how the accident happened and can support your claim. Acquire the video in a timely manner or you may find it gone the next day. Just make sure you make your claim on time or risk losing out.
Even if you have all of the evidence to support your personal injury claim, without an attorney, you may not get the compensation you deserve. This is where the attorneys at the Law Offices Robert T. Edens can help. With more than two decades of experience representing personal injury victims like yourself in Illinois, we have recovered millions in collective damages. We offer our services in Chicago, Waukegan, Woodstock, Libertyville and Antioch, IL. Get in touch for a consultation today.
