Slip and Fall Accidents: Understanding Your Rights and Seeking Compensation for Injuries
by Daniel Wagner | 29 March 2023 | Car Accident
Slip and fall accidents are a prevalent cause of injury in the United States. In fact, the Center for Disease Control reports over 3 million Americans visit the emergency room every year for these incidents. Many of these victims are left with serious injuries, including lingering pain, emotional trauma, and financial damages.
Slip and fall cases are governed under a category of law known as premises liability. Under these laws, property owners are responsible for protecting any individual who legally frequents the property from foreseeable danger. Any form of failure to provide an adequate level of care could be considered negligence and may grant you certain rights.
Have you or a loved one recently been injured in a slip and fall accident? In the following informational guide, the experts at iLawyerUp reveal everything that you need to know to get maximum compensation for your personal injury claim. We will examine your rights under premises liability law, the claims process, and how to choose the best lawyer for your case.
Property Owner/Business Owner Duty of Care
Commercial and residential property owners are legally responsible for protecting employees and the public from foreseeable danger.
What defines foreseeable danger? Under premise liability law, foreseeable danger could refer to any unsafe condition that the property owner was or should have been aware existed.
Slip and fall accidents could occur as a result of numerous issues, including wet floors, uneven grounding, or other unsafe conditions.
Examples of Premises Liability Claims:
- An employee at an office building falls down a flight of stairs due to a lack of safety railing.
- A customer inside a department store trips over a wooden pallet and falls.
- A delivery driver slips and falls on a wet floor inside a convenience store.
- A client falls while exiting a building as a result of poor lighting.
Under premises liability law, a dangerous condition must exist as a result of negligence. Liability may depend on whether or not the property owner was given the opportunity to identify and correct the issue. The unsafe condition must have also resulted in evident damages.
Reach out to an experienced personal injury lawyer to determine if you may have a valid premises liability case.
Assessing Damages After a Slip and Fall Accident
Slip and fall accidents can result in serious injuries, including bone fractures of the back, hips, ankles, and/or hands.
Other Slip and Fall Injuries:
- Concussions
- Knee Injuries
- Shoulder/Elbow Injuries
- Sprains
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Emotional Trauma
The severity of these injuries will depend on the circumstances involved. For example, an individual who falls from an elevated height is more likely to sustain serious injuries.
Seek medical care immediately after any slip and fall accident, regardless of the severity of the resulting injuries. The longer you wait to seek professional medical assistance, the more difficult it will be for your lawyer to prove liability in your case.
Understanding Your Rights after a Slip and Fall
Residential and commercial property owners have a legal responsibility to protect anyone who frequents their establishment. You are entitled to certain rights under premises liability law, including the right to seek compensation for damages.
Gather and document as much evidence as possible to protect these legal rights after a slip and fall accident. A valid premises liability case to be valid must involve unsafe circumstances that resulted in damages. The success of your case will depend on which of these damages can be proven.
Understanding Slip and Fall Settlement Amounts
How much is your slip and fall claim worth? Slip and fall settlement amounts can vary based on which several factors, including:
- Severity of the Injuries Sustained
- Estimated Cost of Past and Future Medical Expenses
- Level of Liability
- Legal Jurisdiction
The only way to determine how much your case may be worth is to reach out to an experienced personal injury lawyer. The legal professionals at iLawyerUp would be happy to review and evaluate the worth of your case. Choosing an experienced premises liability lawyer will also ensure you receive maximum potential settlement amounts.
Compensation May Include:
- Lost Wages
- Medical Expenses
- Future Medical Expenses
- Pain and Suffering
What to Do After a Slip and Fall
The moments immediately following a slip and fall incident can be essential to your case.
Seek Medical Care Immediately
Seeking medical care immediately is crucial for protecting your health and legal rights. When an injury occurs, the brain and nervous system respond by secreting a hormone called endorphins. These hormones are secreted to mask the pain and put the body in what is known as ‘survival’ mode.
This rush of endorphins causes an analgesic effect. Unfortunately, these decreased pain levels also present difficulties in identifying potentially serious injuries. In many cases, these injuries could take days to become apparent and could result in serious consequences, including death.
Seeking medical attention immediately is also crucial for the success of your premises liability case. Medical documentation could provide essential proof of the physical injuries sustained for your case.
Report the Injury at Management/Property Owner
Report the incident to management and/or the property owner immediately. Refrain from any admission of guilt and refuse to sign any documents before consulting with your lawyer.
Contact an Experienced Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer
Choosing an experienced slip and fall lawyer is crucial for obtaining maximum compensation in your case. An experienced slip and fall lawyer has access to advanced tools and technology to help you obtain the evidence you need for your case. A reputable attorney also has access to reliable resources, including other legal professionals to assist with your case.
The legal team at iLawyerUp employs a team of highly skilled and knowledgeable attorneys who specialize in premises liability in auto accident law. Contact iLawyerUp today to learn more about obtaining maximum compensation.
Contact iLawyerUp Today
Reach out to an experienced premises liability lawyer today at iLawyerUp if you or a loved one was hurt as a result of negligence. iLawyerUp employs a team of bold and experienced personal injury attorneys who won’t hesitate to stand up to big corporations and/or the insurance company.
