How Can I Strengthen My Premises Liability Claim?
If you were seriously hurt on someone else’s property because the owner or operator failed to maintain the premises to a reasonable standard, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim. Just because you’re entitled to take action, however, doesn’t mean you’re automatically due a payout.
Since legal proceedings are inherently complicated, there’s no way to guarantee any given case will yield a payout. There are steps you can take, though, to give yours the best chance of yielding a satisfactory settlement or favorable verdict.
Let’s take a look at some of the most effective ways to strengthen a premises liability claim:
1. Preserve Evidence from the Scene
If you have any evidence from the scene of the accident, give it to your legal team as soon as possible for safekeeping and review. Examples include photographs, video footage, statements from eyewitnesses, and any formal incident reports.
2. Keep a Journal
It’s advisable to start a personal injury journal later the same day on which you were hurt. For your first entry, write down everything you can remember about the accident in question, and remember: No detail is too small to include.
If you gathered any pertinent information at the scene—like the names and phone numbers of eyewitnesses, for example—copy that into the journal, as well. This will ensure everything is in one convenient place.
For future entries, record the ways in which your injuries are hurting your overall quality of life. Describe your symptoms—and any limitations they pose—in detail while also tracking the progress of your recovery in general.
3. Limit Your Social Media Engagement
It’s wise to deactivate your social media accounts until your case has been resolved. Insurance adjusters will often monitor a claimant’s online activity in an attempt to find cause to challenge their credibility.
If you cannot deactivate your accounts, adjust your privacy settings so only approved connections can see what you post. It’s also advisable to avoid publishing anything about the accident, your injuries, your social life, or your expenditures.
4. Track Damages Diligently
The state of Florida allows personal injury claimants to seek compensation for:
- Medical bills;
- Lost wages;
- Loss of future earnings;
- Reasonably necessary replacement services;
- Domestic help;
- Home and vehicle modifications;
- Emotional distress;
- Loss of enjoyment in life; and
- Pain and suffering.
Naturally, you’ll have to prove that you did, in fact, incur such damages before you can secure a payout to cover them. Therefore, it’s essential to retain all relevant documentation that might help demonstrate their extent. Examples include medical records, hospital bills, paystubs that log your missed work, and invoices for all injury-related expenses.
Speak with a Premises Liability Attorney
At Donaldson & Weston, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that unanticipated injuries can take on the whole family. If you were seriously hurt because someone failed to act with reasonable care, we’ll help you gather the evidence needed to prove liability and damages against all responsible parties. Call 772-266-5555 or fill out our Contact Form to schedule a free consultation with a premises liability lawyer in Stuart.
