Recovering Compensation After a Sidewalk Accident in Washington D.C.

With winter approaching, many of us have already experienced our first frost. This means that very soon, we will begin to see a spike in sidewalk accidents and injuries. If you have been injured in a sidewalk accident, you are most likely seeking financial compensation to help you through your recovery. Here are some of the questions you may have about the personal injury claims process:

What are some of the most common causes of sidewalk accidents?

There are several causes of sidewalk accidents, though they are almost always due to negligence. Homeowners and municipalities are responsible for keeping their sidewalks and property hazard-free. This means clearing away all loose debris, repairing any sidewalk damages, disposing of any potentially hazardous materials, and, in the winter, clearing away snow and ice within the legally acceptable period of time.

Am I eligible for financial compensation?

When you are involved in a sidewalk accident, there are several factors that come into play when determining who is responsible for the injuries you have sustained. In certain cases, you may be filing a premises liability lawsuit against a negligent property owner. In other cases, municipalities are the ones responsible for sidewalk accident, in which case you will have to first file a Notice of Claim to begin a slightly different personal injury claims process. The bottom line is, your attorney will have to identify the liable party and then satisfy the burden of proof, leaving no doubt that you have sustained injuries at the hands of that negligent party.

How do I satisfy the burden of proof?

To prove your personal injury claim, your attorney will collect, assemble, and present all the evidence needed for a convincing case. For example, your attorney may use surveillance footage of the accident, pictures of the safety hazard that caused the accident, medical documents detailing the severity of the injuries you’ve sustained as a result of the accident, police reports of the incident, and more.

Once you file your personal injury claim, it is generally best practice to avoid posting on social media until your legal matter is resolved. Very often, insurance companies will monitor your accounts to see if you most something that even remotely contradicts or disproves your claim. If you do, they may use it to deny you the compensation you truly deserve, even if they have to take it out of context. Do not let this happen. Take a simple precaution and refrain from posting until you obtain the compensation you need.

Contact our experienced Washington D.C. firm