What Kind of Evidence Do I Need for a New Hampshire Slip-and-Fall Lawsuit?
If you want to pursue a slip-and-fall lawsuit in New Hampshire, you might be vaguely aware that you need some kind of evidence. Since most injured victims are not legal scholars, you probably have no real idea what kind of evidence you need. Perhaps you are not even sure what you need to prove. The good news is that you don’t have to approach this undertaking alone, and legal professionals are here to guide you.
First Determine What You Are Attempting to Prove
Before you start gathering evidence, take a moment to consider what exactly you’re trying to prove. In New Hampshire, every plaintiff must establish “negligence” if they want to recover compensation for a slip and fall. There are four elements of negligence to consider: Duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages (or injuries).
Generally, every property owner owes you a duty of care to keep you safe on their premises. The way in which property owners “breach” this duty of care varies. Perhaps the property owner failed to fix a set of rotting stairs. Maybe they let a liquid spill lie on the floor for hours. Perhaps they let an appliance leak water without repairing it. Different types of evidence may be required to prove each type of breach.
Collect Medical Records
Perhaps the most important thing you can do as a victim of a slip and fall is to see a doctor. When you get treatment, your medical records are updated to reflect the nature of your injury. This creates new evidence in the form of medical records, and you can use these records to prove not only the existence of your injuries, but also their connection to the fall itself. This is the “causation” element of negligence.
Never delay medical treatment after a fall, even if you believe your injuries are mild or they simply require rest. Rule out more serious issues by seeing a doctor. Delayed medical treatment may make it harder to connect your injuries to your fall.
Determine Whether There Is Surveillance Footage
Many businesses have internal security cameras. After a slip and fall, you might want to determine whether a camera captured your accident. If so, you may be able to use this footage as evidence. It is important to notify the store owner that you want them to preserve this footage as soon as you can. Otherwise, the footage may be deleted as part of routine business practices. An experienced lawyer may be able to obtain this footage and other evidence on your behalf, although businesses will often not share any video evidence until required by the legal process, usually after a lawsuit is filed
Can a New Hampshire Slip-and-Fall Lawyer Help Me?
A slip-and-fall lawyer in New Hampshire should be able to help you gather all of the evidence you need to establish negligence and prove liability. Although online research may provide a few insights into the evidence you might need, each case is unique. For this reason, consider discussing your specific circumstances with Manning Zimmerman & Oliveira PLLC today.
