Garden Grove Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys

From slipping on wet floors to tripping over neglected equipment, thousands of Americans are hurt in restaurants, grocery stores, and other establishments across the country every year. While some victims walk away unscathed, many others are left debilitated by their injuries and drowning in medical debt. If you were hurt in an accident, turn to our Garden Grove slip and fall attorneys for answers to your claim-related questions. We are available 24/7. Reach us by calling 1-800-GO-HARRIS. Your initial consultation is free.

Can I Use Social Media After the Accident?

After a serious slip and fall, it’s normal to feel anxious, scared, and in dire need of advice and emotional support. You may be tempted to take to social media to vent about the at-fault party, discuss the progress of your case, or give friends and family a window into your painful recovery. However, the digital space is not a safe space if you’re planning to file a personal injury claim. The insurance company might be monitoring your posts for any evidence that could be used to challenge important aspects of your claim. At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, it’s likely that our attorneys will advise you to deactivate your online profiles until your claim is resolved. However, we understand that for many of our clients, this isn’t possible. Here are a few ways you can protect your claim next time you go online:

• Level Up Your Privacy Settings: On many social media sites, accounts are set to “public” by default. In this mode, anyone—opposing parties included—can comb through your post history and keep tabs on your online activity. Fortunately, those same sites give you the option to go “private”. This setting restricts who can view and interact with your posts. Typically, only those in your social networks will be able to see what you publish when your account is set to “private”.
• Screen New Connection Requests: While you may have reinforced your privacy settings, there are still ways for the insurance company or rival parties to gain access to your profile. One strategy may involve sending you a connection request. Once this invite is accepted, regardless of your settings, your new “friend” will have free rein to snoop through your posts and collect information that could be used to challenge your case. As such, you should screen each new connection request and never accept an invite from someone you don’t recognize.
• Scrap the Snapshots: Pulling out our smartphones and snapping a few pictures to share with friends and family has become second nature for most of us. Within seconds, that candid moment is uploaded to the internet for the world to see. Ordinarily, this technological innovation is an easy way to share your life with those closest to you. However, while your case is pending, these online snapshots could expose to serious risks such as disputes during negotiations or even the denial of your claim. For instance, if you share a picture of you and your family enjoying a dinner at your favorite diner, the insurance company may use this image to assert that your injuries can’t be that serious. Alternatively, if you’re still uploading gym selfies a few days after the accident, an opposing party may argue that you ignored your doctor’s instructions to rest. To avoid such disputes, you should abstain from uploading pictures online until your case has concluded.

How Much Is Personal Injury Case Worth?

Victims of slip and fall accidents often suffer catastrophic injuries such as brain trauma, concussions, broken bones, and spinal injuries. Treating these conditions can cost a small fortune, and it’s common for victims to have to take time off work to let their injuries heal. Understandably, most victims are eager to find out what their claims might be worth. However, until our attorneys have had an opportunity to assess your case and investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, we cannot calculate the potential value of your losses. Below are a few factors we may consider when investigating your claim:

• Your Own Degree of Liability: While you may be the victim of someone else’s negligence or wrongful act, you won’t necessarily be compensated for all the losses you incurred. If, for instance, you were at all responsible for causing the accident, your financial award may be reduced by a percentage representing your degree of liability. For example, if you slipped on a wet floor at a grocery store, but surveillance camera footage shows that you were distracted and not watching where you were going, the opposing party could argue that you are partially responsible as a reasonable person would’ve noticed the hazard. Similarly, if you ignored warning signs, you were trespassing, or had no reason to be in a dangerous area, you may be held liable for your losses.
• Extent of Your Injuries: A catastrophic injury can lead to a lifetime of medical costs, while most minor conditions will likely heal by themselves or with minimal intervention. Typically, the worse the injury is, the larger your potential financial award may be.
• Value of Lost Wages: If you were unable to earn a living while in hospital, recovering, or due to long-term limitations stemming from your injuries, you may be entitled to seek damages for lost earnings.
• Non-Economic Damages: While there are no invoices for suffering or receipts for mental anguish, the mental effects of your injuries can have a serious impact on your quality of life. As such, plaintiffs may seek damages for such losses. Your attorney might use evidence such as psychiatric reports, your personal injury journal, and letters from your employer to prove such losses.

Contact Us Today to Speak to a Garden Grove Slip and Fall Attorney

Day or night, we are here to take your calls. Dial 1-800-GO-HARRIS or shoot us a message HERE to schedule a free case review.