Maison Law’s team of Bakersfield slip and fall accident lawyers represents injury victims of these incidents at one of the city’s Los Amigos Markets. These grocery stores play an important role in the local community, but still have underlying issues when it comes to accidents. If you or someone you care about has been hurt in a slip and fall, contact us for a free consultation.
Do You Even Need Our Lawyers?
When you stop into a Los Amigos Market to buy food for dinner or stock up on household items, you probably don’t expect to fall victim to an accident that leaves you injured. Unfortunately, though, Los Amigos Market is like any other grocery store in Bakersfield in that it has certain aspects that lead to slip and falls:
- Wet floors around produce and refrigerated areas
- Loose tiles
- Obstructed or poorly stocked merchandise in walkways
- Poor lighting
No matter how careful you are, these issues can still be present–particularly at stores that have low staff or not as many resources. But whether or not you need our lawyers depends on the circumstances. If the incident was minor or left you with only slight injuries, you probably don’t need to take legal action. But if you’re really hurt and need more extensive help, we’ll be there for you. Here’s how we approach these cases:
- Free initial consultations – We start with analyzing your case and determining the necessary steps for success in a free initial consultation. We’ll explain the process and evaluate the facts of your case.
- Gathering and compiling records and evidence – We gather important evidence such as medical records, surveillance footage, and accident reports to strengthen your case.
- Dealing with insurance companies and requirements – We negotiate with the insurance company of the responsible party to secure a fair outcome for you.
- Streamlining the process – Dealing with insurance claims and legal matters while recovering from injuries can be overwhelming. Our team handles the legal aspects at no upfront cost to you, allowing you to focus on your health.
With our team’s help, we can certainly make the process easier on you and your family. At the same time, you’ll need to do things on your end to bolster and strengthen your potential case.
What You Need to Do After These Accidents
In the eyes of the law, a slip and fall is like any other accident when there’s injuries involved. At that point, it becomes very important to take certain steps to protect your health, safety, and even your legal rights. Your health is always the first priority, but it’s important to do these other things also:
- Get help – Get help from a bystander or store employee and request medical attention at the store. Also make sure that the incident is reported to the store right away so they can fix the issue.
- Talk with witnesses – Speak with any witnesses present and collect their contact details for future reference.
- Document what happened – Document the scene by taking photographs or videos, highlighting any hazards or factors contributing to the accident.
- Keep evidence – Preserve any evidence relevant to the incident, such as damaged property or clothing.
- Talk to Los Amigos management – Approach store management to request the creation of an official incident report.
- Get further medical attention – Seek further medical evaluation and treatment from your primary care doctor or at an urgent care.
The reason these steps are so important is because even with the protection of the law, there’s still the actual legal process to go through if you want to make a recovery. More to the point, what you’re ultimately able to get back in terms of financial support is going to depend on how strong your claim is.
Legal Options in These Cases
Even though every slip and fall accident case is different, the actual process for recovering damages is usually the same across the board. Generally, you file an injury claim, either through:
- An insurance claim
- A personal injury lawsuit
Procedurally, both options play out in very similar ways. The main difference, of course, is that an insurance claim happens outside of court, and as a result is a lot less formal. There’s benefits to this approach, namely that you can get a settlement and money in your pocket a lot quicker. However, the insurance company has the final say in what they offer you, and it probably won’t cover all your expenses.
Conversely, a lawsuit is a formal legal action and happens within the court system, and could end up before a judge and jury who will decide what you get. While every case plays out differently, both of these options allow you to recover certain damages from Los Amigos and anyone else responsible. These can include:
- Medical bills and treatment costs – These damages are for hospital stays, surgeries, doctor visits, medicine, and therapy for your injuries.
- Lost income – If you can’t work because of your injuries, you can ask for financial considerations to make up for the income you lost. This also covers the loss of earning potential or any future earnings.
- Pain and suffering – Another category of damages is built around the physical pain and mental anguish you went through because of the accident.
- Property damage – If your belongings, like your phone, got damaged, you can ask for Walmart to pay for repair or replacement costs.
- Loss of enjoyment of life – Your injuries could impact how you live your life, including not being able to do things you used to do or could even impact your personal relationships. These damages will cover this.
- Attorneys fees and costs – This category of damages applies if the case goes to trial and ends with a verdict, and covers our fees and court costs.
Even if it happened at Los Amigos, each slip-and-fall is different. How your case plays out depends on the circumstances of what happens and how strong your case is. Our team will be there to support you from start to finish, but the final decision is totally up to you. However, when you get hurt, you’re able to take these actions to make sure the store is accountable.
Bakersfield Slip-and-Fall Accident Victims Can Rely on Maison Law
Facing a slip-and-fall accident at Los Amigos isn’t just unfortunate, it can be traumatic when you or someone you love gets hurt. In the short term, you’ll have to deal with medical bills and missing work, not to mention longer term effects like anxiety. At Maison Law, we know how impactful any accident can be and you can rely on our experience and dedication in these situations. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your options.
