If my wife fell in a supermarket and injured her wrist and hand, how would she go about collecting for medical and time off work pay?

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If my wife fell in a supermarket and injured her wrist and hand, how would she go about collecting for medical and time off work pay?

A rep from the store called her 2 days after the accident but didn’t offer anything in regards to compensation. The rep was actually rude to my wife. Also, what is the time limit for such incidents? This accident occurred 3 weeks ago.

Asked on January 23, 2012 under Personal Injury, California

Answers:

S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

Your wife's personal injury claim should be filed with the supermarket's insurance carrier.  When your wife completes her medical treatment and is released by the doctor or is declared to be permanent and stationary which means having reached a point in her medical treatment where no further improvement is anticipated, she should obtain her medical bills, medical reports and documentation of any wage loss.  The personal injury claim filed with the supermarket's insurance carrier should include these items.  Compensation for the medical bills is straight reimbursement.  Compensation for wage loss is straight reimbursement.  The medical reports will document the nature and extent of your wife's injuries and will be used to determine compensation for pain and suffering which is an amount in addition to the medical bills.  If your wife is dissatisfied with settlement offers from the supermarket's insurance carrier, she should reject the settlement offers and file a lawsuit for negligence against the store.  If the case is settled with the insurance carrier, NO lawsuit is filed.  If the case is NOT settled with the store's insurance carrier, your wife will need to file her lawsuit for negligence against the store prior to the expiration of the applicable statute of limitatiions or she will lose her rights forever in the matter.  The statute of limitations varies from state to state, but since the accident just happened a few weeks ago, there is plenty of time remaining as the statute of limitations is probably one or two years.  Without knowing the state in which you live and/or where the store is located, it is not possible to give you the  exact length of time for the applicable statute of limitations.

Hong Shen / Roberts Law Group

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

You should consult a personal injury attorney immediately. Typically a store would have insurance to cover such an incident. If the store refuses to admit fault, that is where you need an attorney to help you determine fault and how to go after the store for repayment.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

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