Can I Get a Copy of My Incident Report?
You probably would not expect to hear “No” to that question, but that is what Wal-Mart and other big box retailers will tell you when they have you complete an incident report at their store after you fall or get hurt.
Don’t accept No for answer. Demand a copy. Or better yet, snap a photo of the completed form before you turn it in. You can also take a photo of the manager taking report, her name tag, the office you are completing report in and the spill that caused the fall.
Keep your receipt and take down names of those that talked to you or assisted after the fall.
Don’t take No for an answer!
Retailers have a duty of care to follow in Mississippi. Duty of care is a phrase in the legal industry that basically means people have a responsibility to take reasonable care with certain things that could foresee-ably cause potential injury.
For example, if a store had prior knowledge of a puddle or wet area on the floor and it was not immediately obvious to a customer there was a hazard, then the store’s duty of care gets involved if the customer gets injured in a slip and fall. That store’s negligence causing the slip and fall to happen, would be liable for injuries under Premises Liability laws in Mississippi.
This is where a slip and fall case in Mississippi begins.
There are several types of slip and fall incidents including spills in a grocery store floor, defective stairways, floor or building collapse, porch or balcony collapse, tripping or falling due to uneven surfaces, unsecured carpeting, swimming pool injuries, injuries due to poor lighting, items falling from grocery store shelves, or debris and objects being left in pathways.
These type of slip and fall incidents can cause many different types of injuries including sprains, strains, fractures, brain injury, neck and spinal cord injuries, concussions, lacerations, facial injuries, nerve damage or even contusions.
Like I covered earlier, always remember to get detailed pictures, write down names and contact information, save shoes and clothing as necessary, document every detail, and never give a recorded statement when being injured in a slip and fall in a Mississippi business.
Slip and fall cases are largely dependent on the evidence that is gathered and preserved by the injured party. If you are injured by a slip and fall incident you should contact the attorneys at Chhabra & Gibbs, P.A. immediately to help with the process of gathering and preserving evidence that will be needed in order to have the best chance of winning the case. Contact Chhabra & Gibbs, P.A. today to discuss your case by calling 601-948-8005. You can also go to our Premises Liability and Slip and Fall section to learn more.
