The recovery process after an accident at Sheetz can be extremely overwhelming and challenging as many people accrue expensive doctor and hospital bills, lose necessary income to feed their families, and even experience a diminished quality of life when compared to before the accident. If this is the case for you, you may be interested in knowing whether you have a valid case and can file a claim against Sheetz to help you recover your damages. While every person’s case is unique and different, a personal injury attorney can look over the facts and details of your claim and help you determine whether you have a potential and successful case on your hands.
Seven factors that may indicate that you have a valid case after an accident at Sheetz
There are several factors that may indicate that you have a valid case after an accident at Sheetz. Here are seven of the most important factors that your attorney may look for:
- You have not missed the deadline to file a claim: One of the first factors your personal injury lawyer will look for is whether you have missed the deadline to file a claim or not. In Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the deadline to file is generally two years. Therefore, if you are in one of these states and want to file a personal injury claim, you will need to ensure that your accident did not occur two or more years ago.
- You were not at fault for the accident: If you were more than 50 percent at fault for your accident, New Jersey and Pennsylvania do not allow victims to collect any damages. Therefore, depending on the facts and circumstances of your situation, your attorney will need to make sure that you either were not at fault at all or were 49 percent or less at fault.
- The defendant owed you a duty of care: Personal injury cases are based on negligence. This means that you must be able to show that some type of negligence occurred. Therefore, you will first need to prove that the defendant, which may be the Sheetz owner, manager, or employee, owed you a duty of care. A duty of care is an obligation to keep you, the customer, safe and harm-free while on their premises.
- The defendant breached their duty of care: Next, you will need to show proof that the defendant breached their duty of care. For example, if you tripped and fell at a Sheetz because the manager left boxes in the middle of the aisle, you can gather evidence to show that the manager breached their duty of care. Managers at other convenience stores would have provided a different standard of care under the same circumstances, which should not be difficult for an experienced and skilled attorney to prove.
- You experienced losses that were directly caused by the breach: You must be able to show proof that you experienced significant losses because of the defendant’s negligent actions or behavior. Therefore, you will need to prove that you suffered losses, such as medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and loss of enjoyment of activities, due to the accident and injuries.
- You have evidence to support your claim: Evidence is extremely important to a personal injury case. Therefore, if you want to ensure that you have a valid case, you must gather all relevant information and evidence that an attorney can use to build a strong argument against the defendant. This may be photographs, videos or surveillance footage, accident reports, police reports, medical records, doctor’s notes, receipts, prescriptions, bank statements, witness testimonies, and more. Without the proper evidence, you and your attorney will not be able to back up your side of the story and create a convincing argument.
- You have not made any mistakes that may jeopardize your case: When you begin discussing with a lawyer about your potential claim, they will likely ask you specific questions to find out whether you have made any mistakes that could jeopardize your case. Many people do not realize how easy it is to make simple mistakes that could permanently affect their ability to ever hold the defendant accountable or receive the compensation that they are owed. For example, if you have made certain posts on social media about your recovery or injuries, failed to get the medical treatment that you needed immediately after the accident, or admitted some type of fault to the Sheetz store owner or their insurance company when talking about the accident, you may have already hurt your chances of being able to file a claim and obtain the compensation you need to get back on your feet.
Have you been seriously injured in an accident at Sheetz? If so, the New Jersey and Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers at Kwartler Manus, LLC are dedicated to helping you navigate the obstacles and challenges of the legal process. Our team knows and understands the difficulties and hardships that these types of accidents can cause, which is why we strive to be compassionate, empathetic, and supportive throughout the entire process. If you are ready to schedule a free case review to learn whether you have a valid case and how we can assist you, please visit our online contact page today.