No, if you have a slip and fall accident, you do not require legal counsel. You have the ability to represent yourself in court, negotiate a settlement, and file a personal injury claim or lawsuit on your own. If, however, you are thinking of going on a property owner, their insurance company, and possibly their lawyers on your own, you might be in for a tense uphill battle.
Litigating slip and fall lawsuits can be challenging. It’s not always easy to determine who is at fault, and the owner of the property may try to refute your claim by saying that your incompetence or negligence led to your fall.
Slip and Fall Accidents
There are a number of places where a property owner’s negligence might result in slip and fall accidents, including:
- malls for shopping restaurants
- Garages for parking
- offices of government
- residential buildings
- Accommodations
Serious fractures and brain damage are among the severe and occasionally lifelong injuries that can result from slip and fall incidents. You may be able to take legal action against the owner of the property if they neglected to fix a hazardous or dangerous condition that contributed to your accident and injuries. It is possible that you will be able to hold the owner of the property liable for your losses, including missed income and medical expenses.
How an Attorney Can Help
Certain lawyers handle slip and fall lawsuits on a contingency fee basis. This implies that there is no financial risk for you because there are no up-front legal bills to pay. Only if they prevail in your lawsuit and you receive a settlement will the lawyer be compensated. In addition, an attorney can assist you in establishing your case and obtaining compensation in the following methods, among others:
Legal Advice
Initially, your lawyer can provide you with thorough advice and an explanation of your legal alternatives. They can advise you on what to do next in order to perhaps obtain compensation and justice.
Negotiating a Settlement
An out-of-court settlement might occasionally be beneficial to the plaintiff. But in the long run, you run the risk of being out of pocket if you don’t know how to negotiate a settlement and aren’t sure what your true damages are. You might find that the settlement an insurance company wants to provide you only partially compensates for your losses. You will, however, be unable to pursue your case in court once you accept a settlement. Your needs can be met by an attorney who can negotiate on your behalf with an insurance company and evaluate any settlement offers you get.
Representing You in Court
Going it alone without legal representation may result in civil litigants losing what would have been a winning case, having their case dismissed, or failing to make it through the process altogether, according to an article published by The Conversation.
A lawyer can handle all of the legalese involved in starting a case, including making sure all of your paperwork is in order and that you don’t miss any deadlines. They are also qualified to professionally represent you in court.
Although you do not require legal counsel for your slip and fall accident, having qualified legal counsel and representation can be beneficial if you are trying to get compensation from a property owner who was careless.