According to the National Floor Safety Institute, falls account for over 8 million hospital emergency room visits a year, the leading cause of E.R. visits. In this article, we provide an overview of slip and fall injuries including common types and causes, what you should do after a slip and fall injury, and the kind of compensation you may be able to recover if you are able to prove somebody else was at fault for your fall.
Slip and fall injuries are a general category comprising several types of more specific injuries. Among these are the following.
Although slip and fall injuries can happen at random with seemingly no cause, there are a number of conditions that can make them more likely. If a property owner does not take any action to repair or warn others about the following conditions, they may be more likely to be held liable for slip and fall injuries caused by them.
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident and aren’t sure how to proceed, it is recommended that you follow these steps.
Your first priority when having a slip and fall injury should be to seek medical treatment. Having proper health care for your injury will help you heal as quickly as possible, and your medical records will serve as an important piece of evidence if you choose to make a personal injury claim.
Wherever your slip and fall accident happens, it’s important to report it to the store manager, property owner, or landlord. Ask them for a copy of a report detailing the incident in writing.
Additionally, you’ll want to obtain documentation of everything related to your accident. This can include:
Yoir next step will be to get in contact with a personal injury attorney who will be able to help you through the process of taking legal action if you choose to. Having an experienced lawyer on your side is the best way to increase your chances of getting fair compensation for your losses.
There are a number of both financial and non-financial losses that you may be eligible to receive comepnsation for in a slip and fall injury lawsuit. These include:
One of the most challenging things you will have to do as part of a slip and fall lawsuit is proving that the defendant was truly at fault for your injury.
In order for the owner of the property where you fell to be held legally liable for your injuries, at least one of the following conditons must be true:
The third condition is the most common, but also the most difficult to prove because the idea of what a reasonable person would do in any given scenario is subjective. There are several factors that could play into a jury’s decision about reasonable behavior, including:
The nuance of liability is why many slip and fall cases can become complicated and it is highly recommended to retain a lawyer to help you with your claim.