Essential Information for Victims of Slip and Fall Accidents

When a person trips, slips, or falls on the property of another person or entity and is subsequently damaged or injured, they become a slip and fall victim. These types of claims are also known as “premises liability claims” or “slip and fall claims.” The objective principle for premises liability lawsuits is to hold property owners liable for an accident that took place on their “premises.”

These properties may include residential, commercial, government, municipal, and various other public or private properties. As long as the accident did not occur on their property, a slip and fall victim has the legal right to seek compensation for their injuries by filing a premises liability claim through the property owner’s insurance company.

Common causes and injuries

There are many reasons why slip and fall accidents occur. Torn carpets, uneven floors, crumbling sidewalks, wet floors, poor lighting, narrow stairs, building code violations, and careless spills are just a few examples of common causes. Other variables may include rain, snow, ice, potholes, and fog. These typical hazards are capable of causing a wide range of serious injuries, including muscle tears, dislocations, broken bones, orthopedic injuries, concussions, head injuries, brain damage, and much more.

Proof of a claim

Proving a slip and fall claim can be complicated. There are several factors that influence a case, and all cases are different. Although it depends on a number of variables, proving such a claim largely depends on whether or not the property owner took care to prevent the accident, as well as whether or not the claimant possibly acted recklessly and helped cause their own injuries.

In order to have a chance to settle a lawsuit or claim, a slip and fall victim must prove that their accident occurred as a result of a dangerous condition that the property owner knew or should have known or was unable to resolve. For example, if it was raining outside and a person slipped on the sidewalk outside a coffee shop, he may not have a strong case. However, if it was raining and the owner of the premises did not clean the floors and post warning signs just inside the front entrance, the victim might have a better chance of succeeding with her claim.

Hire a Licensed Personal Injury Lawyer

A slip, trip and fall victim should hire a professional attorney to file a strong and impactful personal injury claim against the opposing party. Personal injury attorneys have the knowledge and resources to build an aggressive and articulate case on behalf of a client.

With your help, victims can recover the compensation they deserve for the losses and damages they suffered, such as hospital bills, medical expenses, lost wages, prolonged rehabilitation, pain and suffering, and more. Most law firms will offer no-obligation accident evaluation consultations for first-time appointments, while many others may also allow clients to waive up-front attorney fees unless they settle their claim.