Slip and Fall at Walmart: How to File a Southern California Claim
Like all big box stores, Walmart has a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of its premises. Unfortunately, managers and employees are not always as careful as they should be in maintaining safe stores. This can result in preventable customer injuries, including slip and fall accident injuries. If you believe you have grounds to file a claim against a Southern California Walmart store for a slip and fall accident, follow these steps.
Report the Accident
Tell a floor supervisor or store manager about your slip and fall accident immediately. Find an employee and describe what happened. Be specific. If the employee fills out an accident report, request a copy for your own records. Ask if there is an in-store or parking lot surveillance camera that might have caught your slip and fall accident on tape, as well. If so, ask for a copy of the footage before the security system deletes it. Many systems automatically tape over old footage every 24 hours, so act quickly.
Collect Evidence
While you are still at the Walmart, collect evidence that you may be able to use during a slip and fall accident claim later. It is important to do this immediately, before a Walmart employee has the chance to clean up the hazard, such as mopping up a spill. Do your best to collect the following evidence before leaving the scene of the accident:
- Photographs of the hazard that caused your fall
- Photographs of the scene as a whole
- Surveillance footage, if available
- Eyewitness contact information
- A copy of the accident report
You should also keep the clothes and shoes you were wearing at the time of your slip and fall accident. They may contain evidence of causation, such as residue from a recently waxed floor. If you are too injured to collect evidence yourself, ask a trusted friend or family member to do so for you.
Go to a Hospital as Soon as Possible
Check yourself for injuries. If you notice severe pain or a serious injury, you may need to request an ambulance to pick you up from the Walmart. Otherwise, go to a doctor or hospital as soon as possible for injury treatment. Keep in mind that you may have injuries with delayed symptoms, such as a pulled muscle or concussion, that you don’t notice right away. This is why it is important to see a doctor without delay after a slip and fall accident.
Write Down What Happened
Create a detailed log of events for your own records. Describe the incident in detail while the memory of it is still fresh in your mind. Include the exact date and time that your fall happened, the location of the Walmart, the hazard that made you fall within the Walmart, the names of anyone you spoke to about the accident, and how you’re feeling since the accident. Maintain an injury journal where you describe any physical pain or emotional suffering that the accident has caused.
File an Insurance Claim
When you are ready to file a claim, contact the Walmart Claim Department at 1-800-527-0566 and state that you wish to file a Southern California slip and fall injury claim. Walmart is unique in that it insures itself rather than using insurance through a third-party provider. This means that its own money is on the line when a customer files an injury claim. If you need assistance filling out your form, a slip and fall accident attorney can help. An attorney can also help with what comes next – negotiating with the claims department for a fair and full settlement.
Consult With a Walmart Slip and Fall Attorney
Walmart will not want to maximize your financial recovery for a slip and fall accident injury. You may encounter many obstacles while trying to obtain fair compensation, such as Walmart wrongfully rejecting your claim or valuing it at less than it is worth. Hiring a Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer gives you an edge during settlement negotiations, ensuring that you do not accept an unfair outcome. A lawyer can assist you with every phase of your Walmart slip and fall accident lawsuit.