If you suffer injuries after falling on a slippery floor or in a car accident, you may assume that another party is responsible for any financial damages that you incur. However, this is not always the case. What are some steps that you can take to determine if someone else is responsible for an accident that you were involved in?
Talk With an Attorney
One of the easiest ways to determine who was at fault in causing an accident may be to talk with an attorney, such as one from Knafo Law Offices. He or she may be able to review the case to determine if negligence occurred or if other parties had a duty of care to protect you. In some instances, a victim may be deemed partially or fully responsible for his or her injuries under the law.
Were You Allowed To Be On a Premises?
Property owners generally only have a duty of care to those who are invited or otherwise allowed to be on the premises. If you were trespassing at the time of an slip and fall accident that led to your injuries, you may be solely responsible for any damages incurred.
Were You Taking Actions That Could Have Contributed to an Accident?
Let’s say that your vehicle was struck by another vehicle on the highway, and that accident caused you to spend several weeks in the hospital. If the other car hit your vehicle because you made an illegal turn at a stoplight or because you were driving too fast or too slow for road conditions, you may be responsible for that accident. In some cases, you may actually be named the person at fault for causing it.
Did the Other Party Take Steps to Remedy Potentially Dangerous Conditions?
If a store owner put a wet floor sign at the entrance to his or her shop, then that may reduce or eliminate his or her liability if an accident occurs. The same may be true if there was a sign warning you about debris falling from the ceiling or warning you about other dangerous conditions that may exist on site.
Just because you were involved in an accident doesn’t mean it was someone else’s fault. Unless you can show that another party was willfully negligent in causing it to occur, a judge or jury may determine that you are entitled to partial or no compensation at all. Before filing a lawsuit, it may be worthwhile to consult with an attorney.
Author Info: Hannah Whittenly is a freelance writer and mother of two from Sacramento, CA. She enjoys kayaking and reading books by the lake. You can find her on Twitter.
