Spending an afternoon at one of Louisville’s shopping malls is an excellent way to get through cold winter months. Not only can you get some exercise walking between stores, but you may also find a bargain. You should not, however, have to worry about your personal safety. After all, shopping center owners have a duty to provide a safe place for you to visit.
If you slip and fall at the mall, you may need to act quickly to recover from your injuries and assert your legal rights. How you behave during and after the incident, though, may affect your ability to receive compensation from the shopping center’s owner. Here are four things you should do if you fall at a mall in the Louisville area:
1. Tell someone
Most shopping mall managers rely on video cameras to prevent and detect theft. As such, there is a good chance a camera captured your fall. You cannot, however, depend on the shopping center’s video footage to report the incident. Instead, you must file a report. In some cases, you may need to alert more than one entity. For example, if you fall inside a store at the shopping center, you should tell both the store’s manager and the shopping center’s manager about the matter.
2. Go to the doctor
You may feel silly after a fall. You cannot, though, let your embarrassment deter you from seeking medical attention. Instead, you should see a doctor immediately. When you do, describe in detail how you sustained your injuries. Remember, sometimes symptoms take time to appear. Therefore, even if you think you are fine, you should ask a medical professional to examine you.
3. Keep extensive records
To receive compensation for your injuries, you must prove shopping center staff acted negligently. As such, immediately after the incident, you should begin documenting it. Try to take photographs of the scene. Also, try to obtain the contact information of anyone who may have witnessed your fall. Finally, keep every medical record or report you receive.
4. Be careful with your words
Talking too much may make your personal injury case harder to prove. Therefore, try to limit any statements you make to the shopping center’s manager or anyone else until you have discussed the incident with an attorney. Moreover, wait to sign a statement or consider settlement offers until you have explored your legal options.
Even if you are careful, you may not be able to avoid a slip or fall at a shopping mall. As you probably know, even minor falls often cause extensive injuries. By being smart during and after the incident, you increase your odds of receiving compensation for your damages.
