Property-related accidents cause thousands of serious injuries that require hospitalization each year. Some of these accidents include slip and falls, swimming pool accidents, and dog attacks. If you were injured while on a commercial property, such as a business in Phoenix, learn how to handle an accident claim. Someone may owe you compensation for your injury, but you must take certain steps to achieve a fair case outcome.
Report the Accident
It is important to report any accident on a commercial property that injures you to an authority figure immediately. Search for someone in charge at the company or business, such as a manager, supervisor or CEO. Explain that you were injured, along with a description of the accident.
Write down the name of the person you speak with when reporting your accident. Telling someone will provide proof that your injury occurred, along with key details while they were still fresh in your mind, such as a description of the dangerous property defect that injured you.
Collect Evidence
After any type of accident on someone else’s property, do your best to collect things that could serve as evidence of another person’s fault or liability during an injury claim later. If you are badly injured, you can always return to the scene of your commercial property accident to gather this evidence. However, if possible, it is best to collect it immediately, before someone has the chance to destroy evidence or alter the scene.
- Photographs of the property defect or element that caused your injury
- Video surveillance footage
- Eyewitness information and statements
- A copy of the accident report
- The clothes and shoes you were wearing
The more evidence you can gather while still at the commercial property on the day of your injury, the better. You or your lawyer can use this evidence to build a claim against the person named in your claim as the at-fault party. Before you can focus on the claims process, however, you will need to see a doctor for your injuries.
Seek Medical Attention ASAP
Never delay medical care after an injury on commercial property. Medical care can provide indisputable proof of your injuries; you can collect x-rays, test results, treatment plans and other documents proving your injury. An official diagnosis can also prove the extent, type and severity of the injury for your claim. If you wait too long to see a doctor, this could be a red flag for an insurance company – potentially giving it a reason to deny your claim.
Understand Arizona’s Premises Liability Laws
Once you are healing from your injury, begin the claims process by learning the basics about Arizona’s premises liability laws. In Arizona, an injured party can file a premises liability claim after an accident on commercial property if the accident was caused by the owner or controller’s negligence.
Negligence refers to any action or failure to act by the property owner (or the party that was in control of the commercial property, if a different entity was leasing it) that violated the owner’s standards of care. These standards include inspecting for hidden hazards and repairing known defects.
If the owner knowingly ignored an uneven curb in the parking lot, for example, and a customer tripped and fell as a result, the owner will be liable for damages. A breach of duty will give you the right to file an injury claim in Arizona.
Consult With an Attorney in Phoenix
If you believe you have grounds to file a claim for an injury suffered on a commercial property in Phoenix, contact a premises liability attorney for assistance. Going up against a commercial business owner and his or her insurance company can be difficult. Your lawyer can help you protect your rights and navigate the legal system, guiding you through a claim from beginning to end. Hiring an attorney can improve your chances of having a successful case.