How to Mitigate Damages after a Slip and Fall Accident

Filing a personal injury claim after a slip and fall incident could help you get the funds you need to pick up the pieces in the aftermath of this traumatic event. However, during proceedings, it won’t just be your lawyer who has to do all the work; as a claimant, you have a strict responsibility to take sufficient steps to mitigate your damages. 

Simply put, you should make sure that your actions—or inaction—don’t lead to additional expenses. Signs that you failed in this duty could lead to disputes, potentially resulting in a reduced financial award or the outright denial of your claim.  

In this article, we look at a few ways you can mitigate damages after a slip and fall accident and avoid issues during proceedings:  

Visit the Doctor Immediately 

Slip and fall accidents can lead to many different types of serious injuries, such as brain trauma, impact injuries, and spinal cord injuries. As such, even if you feel fine afterwards, you should still visit the doctor and undergo a comprehensive medical assessment. It’s possible that you suffered an injury that is yet to manifest symptoms or—at least initially—only presents with minor symptoms. Delaying a diagnosis could result in disputes over failure to mitigate damages. For instance, the insurer might argue that had you visited the doctor sooner you may have been able to avoid certain health complications. 

Follow You Healthcare Provider’s Instructions 

Whether your doctor has ordered you to take time off work to let your injuries heal, take prescription medication, or perform daily exercises, you should never deviate from your treatment plan. Signs that you failed to follow your doctor’s orders could result in disputes over failure to mitigate damages, potentially leaving you on the hook for some of your losses.  

Don’t Delegate Tasks You Can Handle Yourself 

As a personal injury victim, you can seek compensation for the cost of hiring someone to tackle tasks you can no longer handle on your own because of your injuries. However, if—for example—your medical records reveal that you brought in someone to oversee tasks you were perfectly able to do yourself, opposing parties may refuse to cover such expenses.  

Return to Work as Soon as You Can 

Once your medical providers have given you the all-clear to return to work, you should do so without delay. Chances are that the insurer will not reimburse you for any paychecks you missed from this point onwards.  

Speak to a Slip and Fall Accident Attorney in California Today 

Were you injured on someone else’s property? Turn to the slip and fall accident attorneys at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers to find out how you could recover compensation for your medical costs, lost wages, and other damages. Through the years, we’ve helped our clients obtain more than $300 million in settlements and verdicts. To lock in a free case assessment, reach out to us today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS or by clicking through to our online contact page HERE