While shopping in a store, you likely don’t anticipate getting hurt. However, due to negligence, you can sustain serious injuries. Although you may not want to make a fuss, especially if you believe your injuries are only minor, it is imperative to ask the store manager or staff member for a store incident report. Even though your injury seems insignificant, it could become more serious later as some medical conditions might not be evident immediately. To protect your rights, taking specific steps, including getting a store incident report, is critical. If you have been injured in a slip-and-fall accident in a retail store, contact a determined Bronx Premises Liability Lawyer who can help you navigate your legal options. Keep reading to learn the significance of completing a store incident report after an accident.
Should I complete a store incident report after a slip and fall accident?
Like other establishments, retail stores owe everyone that enters their premises a duty of care. Essentially, they must maintain a safe environment for their shoppers to prevent severe accidents and injuries. If there are any dangerous property conditions, the appropriate parties must remedy them promptly. If the hazardous condition is left unattended and causes an accident, the store can be held liable as their negligent actions were the direct cause of the accident. However, before you can recover monetary compensation for your damages, you must fulfill the burden of proof. You must prove that the store’s negligence directly caused your injuries. To do this, you must collect relevant evidence that proves the store’s negligence. A store incident report is a record of the incident that can corroborate your claim.
Filing a store incident report is vital to your premises liability case. Firstly, filing an incident report is the first form of documentation you have that provides factual evidence that you were injured in the store. This is especially important if there are no witnesses to your injury. When you complete the report, you will provide the appropriate parties with the necessary details. These details include the date, the time, the people involved, how the accident occurred, and the condition of the area where you were injured. This will effectively preserve evidence of the incident that can strengthen your claim. It is critical to note that it is also imperative to file an incident report to ensure the appropriate parties take the necessary steps to remedy the hazardous property conditions that caused your injuries to prevent similar accidents in the future.
After filing a store incident report, get a copy of the report. If they don’t give you a copy, take a picture of the report. This will ensure the information is not modified to minimize the store’s liability for your injuries. If you have been injured in an accident in a store, contact a skilled Bronx premises liability lawyer. At the law firm of James Newman, P.C., we are committed to helping our clients get justice.
