Slip and fall mishaps can happen anywhere and at any time. In certain cases, slip and fall accidents could be due to a person’s negligence or clumsiness. In other cases, the manager or owner of a property could be responsible for the accident.
If a person’s injuries can be attributed to negligence of a homeowner or business, they will be obliged to file an insurance claim with the owner’s insurance company. The time taken to receive any settlement dues depends on when the insurance claim was filed, the time taken for the insurance company to contact you with an offer, and whether or not that offer is deemed as acceptable.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO BEFORE YOU CONTACT THE OWNER’S INSURANCE COMPANY
If you happened to fall at a business or residence, do look around to ascertain why you took the tumble. Did something lie in your path that you reasonably were not expected to see? Did they perform necessary maintenance work and fail to put up signs around the area, to alert you about this fact? Was there some slippery substance on the floor that should have been cleaned up in a reasonable period of time? If you can, do take pictures and get the names and phone numbers of any witnesses who saw the accident occur. If your injury was at a business and you feel that the business-owner or the building-owner was responsible for that accident, you must fill out an accident report with the manager and secure the name and number of their insurance company. If injured on a person’s property, the number and name of the homeowner’s insurance, is necessary.
You must visit a doctor as soon as possible, even if feeling fine. Some injuries take a long time to manifest or become apparent. Save copies of all medical bills you get, including massages or physical therapy that you might need. You should preserve the receipts for any and all prescription or non-prescription medicines taken. You need a letter from your employer mentioning the total number of hours, you missed from work.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO MAKE A SETTLEMENT OFFER?
A Kansas-based insurance company has to acknowledge your claim within ten days. This includes you getting any necessary paperwork. You must complete the forms as soon as possible as they will then have 15 days after receiving those duly filled-in forms, to deny or accept your claim. If they deny your claim, you may consult a personal injury attorney to discuss a possible lawsuit. If they accept your claim, you may speak to a legal expert to assess the amount offered you is adequate enough to accept. If the settlement amount is inadequate, you possibly hire an attorney for negotiating terms. This could take months.
PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUITS
To file a personal injury lawsuit in Kansas, you have two years after the injury to do so. After filing the suit, it takes months or even years to settle cases. Your attorney and insurance company will attempt a fair settlement before seeking court intervention. When unable to forge a fair settlement, the trial process begins, though very rare. Collecting evidence and filling paperwork in time will ensure your case moves swiftly and smoothly.