A liability claim is a formal demand for money. It is made by someone who believes they were harmed because another person or company was careless or failed in a legal duty. The core idea is simple: if your actions—or your failure to act—cause da...
Read MoreIt is a different but very important piece of evidence. For incidents like slips and falls or injuries in a store, a business’s internal incident report is their first official record. It often contains statements from employees and managers, which can reveal what they knew about a hazard. This report can be critical in proving they were negligent. Always request a copy at the scene, as it may be harder to obtain later.
You should still treat it as a hit-and-run. File a police report immediately upon discovery, as there may be security cameras in the area (like a parking lot) that captured the incident. Then, promptly contact your insurance company. Be prepared to explain the delay and provide your best estimate of when and where the incident likely happened. A delayed report is better than no report at all.
The adjuster is an employee or contractor for the insurance company. Their primary job is to investigate your claim, assess the reported damages and liability, and ultimately settle the claim for the lowest amount that is legally reasonable. They are not your advocate or advisor. While many are professional, remember they work for the insurer’s financial interests. Your cooperation is necessary, but you should be cautious and prepared in all communications.
Common cases involve slip and falls on wet floors or uneven surfaces in stores, injuries from poor maintenance like broken handrails or stairs, swimming pool drownings or diving accidents due to lack of fencing or supervision, dog bites on the owner’s property, and injuries from falling objects in stores. Inadequate security leading to assaults in apartment complexes or parking lots is also a major category, as are injuries from snow and ice that was not cleared.
