You’ve probably seen cartoons where a character slips on a banana peel. It’s often exaggerated and played for laughs. In real life, there’s nothing funny about walking along, minding your own business, then suddenly slipping on a hidden hazard. In fact, there is at least one case in which a plaintiff really did suffer injuries due to a rotten banana peel on a train platform.

Victims of slip and fall cases are sometimes maligned in the media or court of public opinion, but the truth is that anyone can be seriously injured in a slip and fall accident. According to the National Floor Safety Institute, about a million people per year visit the emergency room due to a slip and fall.

Slip and fall accidents can leave you seriously injured, confused and worried. Here’s what kind of evidence you can help your attorney gather.

What to Prove in a Slip and Fall Case

Slip and fall cases are a type of premises liability action. Premises liability is based on a theory of negligence. Your lawyer will have to prove that:

1. There was a safety hazard on the property;
2. The owner or property manager knew or should have known about the hazard;
3. They failed to remove the hazard;
4. The plaintiff slipped and fell thanks to the hazard, and
5. The plaintiff suffered actual harm as a result.

Evidence You’ll Need

Slip and fall cases typically hinge on whether the owner knew about the hazard and had time to remedy the problem before the accident. Another big question is whether the owner or employees created the hazard and failed to clean it up before customers were exposed to the risk.

Here are just a few of the pieces of evidence that you and your attorney may be able to collect:

• Photos right after the accident, including the scene, your injuries and clothing
• Medical records, including related diagnoses, prescriptions and surgical procedures
• Surveillance footage from the business or neighboring businesses, depending on where you fell
• Witness testimony from guests, employees, previously injured victims or passersby
• The business’s cleaning or maintenance records, proving they failed in their cleaning duties
• Any city citations or other records showing the business had a record of failing to remove hazards

Your attorney will take care of most of these evidence requests, but you can help by getting witness numbers, photos of your injuries and related items whenever possible.

Talk to an Ohio Attorney Today

Have you been injured in a slip and fall accident? You don’t have to suffer financially—you deserve to be compensated for your losses. Call me today at 877.944.4373 to discuss your case. I can help you get compensation for your medical costs, lost wages and more. I’ll Make Them Pay!®