If you have slipped and fallen in a grocery store, a parking lot or any other property that you don’t own, it may be a good idea to file a lawsuit. Doing so may help you pay medical bills and provide for your family while out of work. Typically, you have two years from the date of the fall to file a suit.
Suing Preserves Your Rights
By filing a lawsuit, you preserve your right to go to court if settlement talks don’t work. In some cases, simply the threat of going before a judge and jury can get a party to negotiate in good faith. That can lead to a fair settlement in a timely manner.
Get Maximum Compensation
Even if the party liable for your injuries has insurance, the policy may not cover the full cost of treatment. By filing a lawsuit, you have the option to put a lien on property or take other steps to obtain the cash that you may be entitled to by law.
Make the Case a Public Matter
Private settlement talks are generally done behind closed doors. Arbitration and mediation sessions are also conducted in private, and the results of a mediation or arbitration session are not released to the public. The thought of opening proceedings to the public could make a large company willing to give you what you want to avoid bad publicity.
Multiple Parties Are Liable for Damages
When multiple parties are liable for damages, they may all agree that they are at fault for your injury. However, parties may not agree on how much that each should have to pay. A judge may be able to determine the liability of each party and how they will pay what is owed to you.
The Other Side Refuses to Negotiate at All
If the other side refuses to negotiate at all, you may have no choice but to file a lawsuit. Legal professionals such as the ones from Spooner & Perkins P.C. Attorneys at Law can help you file the suit and present your case to a judge or jury.
After an accident, it is important that you do whatever it takes to make sure that your rights are respected. At a minimum, contact an attorney to learn what they are and what types of damages are available. Generally speaking, you are entitled to be reimbursed for medical bills incurred, lost wages and lost future earnings if you can’t return to work.
About the Author: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her husky Snowball. You can find her on Twitter at @LizzieWeakley and on Facebook at facebook.com/lizzie.weakley.
