I slipped and fell at Publix and they offered to pay my medical bills. Should I let them pay?
Author: Attorney Jason Macri
Unfortunately, many people become injured at Publix due to dangerously slippery floors, negligent employees and other dangerous circumstances. Many times, a Publix manager will create an incident report regarding the injury. The manager will typically gather up the contact information of the injured person and may even follow-up the next day by calling the injured person and asking how they are doing. Later, a Publix risk management employee may even contact the injured person and offer to pay medical bills. While this may sound like a generous offer, it will almost always result in a serious setback.
Publix will not pay an injured person’s medical bills without having that person sign medical authorization forms. They will require the medical authorization forms so that they can gather the injured person’s medical records in an effort to reveal either that the person had a prior medical history or that the person’s injuries were not the result of their incident at Publix. Typically, releasing medical forms to Publix risk management will not help the injured person achieve proper compensation.
Publix will also not pay an injured person’s medical bills without having that person sign a liability release or waiver. With this signed document, Publix will ensure that the injured person will be forever barred from bringing an injury claim. The injured person will no longer be entitled to a claim for damages and will never be able to file a lawsuit against Publix regarding the incident.
Clearly, the signing of any of these forms may potentially destroy the possibility of achieving compensation for injuries. Before considering whether to sign any of these forms, contact a lawyer. An experiences injury lawyer will advise you of your rights and will explain the consequences of signing any particular form. While it may seem rather harmless to sign a document, it may potentially be fatal to your case.
