Your Rights If You Are Injured On Someone Else’s Property

If you or somebody you know have ever been injured when visiting someone else’s home or office, you should be aware of your rights. Such injuries could take place because of an uneven step, wet floors, defective elevators, falling objects, or even a defective parking lot and sidewalk. There are instances where people have been injured due to a badly lit staircase, dog bites, lack of security to some dangerous conditions on their premises. In case you have been through this, you have a basis for a lawsuit against the owner of the property.  In public places, homeowners and store owners must take the necessary steps and ensure reasonable care of people on their property. They should be able to protect the people from the risk of harm on their premises. It means that the owner must inspect the home or the building and get it repaired or warn the visitors of any dangerous conditions on the property. If the property owner is aware of a dangerous condition but does not do anything about it, he will be held liable for the injuries that are suffered by the visitors.  What to do if you are injured?  Here are the steps you can take if you are injured on someone else’s property. 

1. Get medical help immediately: It might sound obvious but you may not know the severity of the injury. There are times when the outward symptoms might not manifest for several weeks or months and if you think that you might have been injured, head to a doctor right away. Do not waste any time and look for medical help. 
2. Click photographs: Since the things are still in the same condition as the accident, try taking pictures. Use your cellphone and click photographs of the scene that shows how and where you were injured. Do your best to cover the dangerous situation in your photos. If you have enough evidence through photos, you are already a step ahead in proving your point that the situation was dangerous and could have injured anybody present there. 
3. Get other relevant evidence or information: You need to get the name and contact details of any individual who might have seen the incident or who could describe the conditions of the place in detail. You can ask them to talk about the lighting, security, floor, or any other conditions which may have led to this injury. An attorney at Stein Law, a shooting victim lawsuit injury lawyer states, “Speak to everyone present there and ask them what they saw about the injury or accident. Keep evidence like your shoes and clothes secure as it might be useful later.”
4. File a police report: Depending on where the incident occurred, file a police report. If it took place in an office, inform the security manager about the same and file an incident report. In case the accident was part of an attack, you need to file a police report immediately. When medical personnel are contacted, you should get their reports and keep a copy of all the reports before you leave the premises. This will help you with your case. 
5. Keep the medical and expenditure details: Based on the circumstances, you could be eligible to receive a reimbursement of the lost wages, your medical bills, and other damages you would have suffered because of the injury. You will need proof for the same. It includes medical records from doctors, information about the procedures performed, and receipts of the out-of-pocket expenses you may have incurred. 
6. Never sign anything without taking legal advice: Do not make the mistake of signing anything unless you have taken legal advice. An insurance company or the property owner’s attorney might contact you to get more information about the injuries or ask you to sign a release. But do not do this. Before you sign on anything, speak to the attorney who will be representing your interest and who has a specialization in such cases. Only he will be able to advise you on this matter. Several personal injury law firms can assist you in this case, and they work on a contingency basis, which means they have to be paid only when you receive the settlement payment. 

If you are injured on someone else’s property, seek medical help immediately and then contact a professional lawyer to assist you. Whether it is a minor injury or a major fall, you have certain rights and you should be aware of them. Keep all the evidence, and do not talk to anyone about the incident except for your lawyer. Only an expert can help you in such a situation, and it is best to work with someone with the skills and expertise in handling a case like this one.