5 Reasons Your Slip and Fall Claim was Denied – and Valuable Tips to Help Fix It
You just heard back from the insurance company, and your slip and fall claim was denied. What should you do next?
Slip and fall injuries are extremely common, but can be difficult to prove. There are a number of potential slip and fall causes, such as:
- Uneven surfaces
- Wet floors
- Loose carpet
- Broken walkways or staircases
- Missing handrails
- Lack of light
- Unbound wiring or cables
- Elevator or escalator injuries
According to the National Safety Council, slips and falls led to 42,114 deaths at home or work in 2020.
It’s undeniable that slips and falls are one of the most frequent personal injury claims, but they are still sometimes denied.
If you are searching for a reason why your slip and fall claim was denied, there is usually one clear cause.
Some of the most common reasons may include:
Lack of evidence – without enough evidence, it’s likely a claim will be denied. Proper evidence is a necessity in any personal injury claim.
You can collect evidence at the scene of a slip and fall and after. Important evidence includes:
- Photos and videos of your injuries, as well as the accident area
- Medical reports or bills
- Witness testimonies
- Surveillance footage
A personal injury attorney can help collect these pieces of information.
Pre-existing conditions – if your slip and fall claim was denied, it may have been because of a condition you already have. For example, back pain from another injury can be flared by a slip and fall.
It’s not rare for an insurance company to deny your claim based on a pre-existing condition. It’s often due to the idea that these injuries are exacerbated by the slip and fall, and not caused by it.
Failing to file a claim on time – there is a two year statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim in the state of California. Failure to file a personal injury claim within the two year statute of limitations can lead to denial of your case.
The statute of limitations in California starts two years from the actual date of the injury. It’s important to file a claim as quickly as possible.
Failing to mitigate any injuries – mitigating injuries involves the victim taking reasonable steps to help heal following an accident (in this case a slip and fall). This involves seeking prompt medical attention, attending doctor’s appointments, continuing with any physical therapy, etc.
Failure to mitigate your injuries can have serious consequences. For example, not going to doctor’s appointments could imply that you are not as injured as you initially claimed, or that your injuries have healed.
Bad faith from the insurance adjuster – an insurance company, more specifically an adjuster, can act in “bad faith” following a slip and fall personal injury claim. This occurs when the company deceitfully denies a claim.
An insurance adjuster may deny the claim with no valid reason, or even make threatening statements to the injured party.
Just because your claim is denied does not mean your insurance company is acting in bad faith.
If you’re searching for reasons your slip and fall claim was denied, one of the first steps that may help is reaching out to a personal injury attorney.
At C&B Law Group, we have a team of LA personal injury attorneys prepared to help you following a slip and fall injury. We’ve recovered millions of dollars for clients, and have a 99 percent success rate settling cases.
We will work to fight for you if your slip and fall claim was denied.
Injuries after a slip and fall can be debilitating. Some of the most common injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Hand injuries
- Concussions or traumatic brain injuries
- Foot and leg injuries
- Damage to your neck
- Chronic back pain
- Chest injuries
- Internal hemorrhaging
- Eye injuries or vision problems
- Spinal cord injuries
There can be a number of reasons your slip and fall claim was denied. Let us fight for your justice.
If your slip and fall claim was denied, contact the Los Angeles attorneys at C&B Law Group today to learn more about how you can receive a free consultation.
