Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents often result in injuries, which can incur expensive medical bills, lost wages due to taking time off work to recover, and emotional pain. Premises liability law provides injured plaintiffs with a means for recovering financial compensation for their damages when the accident was caused by another person’s negligence.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over one million Americans suffer a slip, trip, and fall injury each year, and over 17, 000 individuals die as a result of these injuries in the United States.

Knowing your rights is an important part of ensuring that you are able to claim what you deserve after suffering harm due to another party’s carelessness. 

What is the Legal Definition of a Slip and Fall Accident?

A slip and fall accident is defined as a type of personal injury claim that occurs when someone slips, trips, or falls due to a dangerous or hazardous condition that has been caused by another person’s negligence. These accidents can occur anywhere from public sidewalks to private businesses and commonly involve falls from wet floors, spills, uneven surfaces, inadequate lighting, crumbling stairs, uncovered hazards, unmarked cliffs and more.

In order for a slip and fall accident to be considered legally eligible for compensation, it must involve unsafe property conditions that have been unreasonably maintained by an individual, organization or another group. When filing the personal injury claim, victims must provide evidence that the responsible party was aware of the hazardous area but neglected to take proper action. If approved by the courts, in such cases of negligence or malpractice, legal charges may be brought against those responsible, together with fees for medical bills and possibly other damages.

What are the Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents?

Slip and fall accidents can be caused by a variety of factors. Common causes include hazardous conditions on walking surfaces, such as uneven or wet surfaces, debris left on the ground, elevated walkways missing guardrails, insufficient lighting, and icy or snowy sidewalks. These types of accidents are the result of inadequate maintenance of walking surfaces or other lack of protection from dangerous conditions. If you have been hurt in a slip and fall accident due to hazardous conditions or improper maintenance, contact our premises liability attorneys.

Who is Legally Responsible for a Slip and Fall Accident?

When a slip and fall accident occurs, those affected will often seek legal recourse. The process to reach liability for the accident starts with establishing who the party or parties responsible are. A person, business or organization can be held legally responsible for such an event if they have been negligent in providing a safe environment, failed to alert individuals of potential dangers, or provided inadequate warning of any hazardous conditions on their premises.

The liable party is either an individual or a business entity that directly owns or operates the space in which the slip and fall accident occurred. Establishing this responsibility requires making a claim within the appropriate legal jurisdiction and gathering evidence of negligence in order to pursue any form of restitution.

What are the Consequences of a Slip and Fall Accident?

Slip and fall accidents have the potential to cause serious injury and impact the remainder of a person’s life. Depending on the severity, victims may require extensive medical care, face long-term disability, or need to make adjustments to everyday activities. Although they may initially appear minor, slip and fall accidents can also bring psychological trauma, such as a fear of taking part in everyday activities or recurring pain.

Even after treatment for a slip and fall accident comes to an end, it is common for people to experience lifelong repercussions, such as reduced mobility or chronic pain. It is important to seek immediate medical attention after slipping and falling; doing so can help minimize the long-term effects that can have a drastic impact on day-to-day activities.

What Should I Do if I Am Involved in a Slip and Fall Accident?

In the event of a slip and fall accident, it is important to document as many details as possible. Take pictures of the scene, including yourself and your injuries if you can. Exchange contact information with anyone who saw the accident happen or anyone who was nearby. If a business security camera recorded the incident, request a copy of this footage. Most importantly, seek medical attention right away to make sure that any injuries are treated promptly and thoroughly. Depending on your situation, you may want to seek legal guidance from a premises liability solicitor after an accident. To get compensation or any other assistance that you are entitled to, it is important to fill out an incident report detailing what happened as soon as possible after a slip and fall accident. This can help support your case in the future.

What Are The Most Common Injuries Associated With Slip and Fall Accidents?

Slip and fall accidents can result in a variety of minor to serious injuries. Some of the most common injuries resulting from slip and falls are:

• sprains
• strains
• fractures
• concussions
• dislocations

If you experience any of these types of injuries due to a slip and fall accident, you should seek medical attention and legal advice.

How Can I Prove That Someone Else Is Responsible For My Slip and Fall Accident?

If you’ve suffered a slip and fall injury due to the negligence of another person or business, it’s important to document the accident as much as possible. Get contact information for any witnesses and make sure to write down details of what happened and when it happened and other relevant information.

Keep receipts from medical charges related to the accident as evidence of your injury. Once you have gathered this information, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer who has experience dealing with premises liability cases such as yours. They will be able to assist in determining if there is legal basis for filing a lawsuit against those responsible for the accident.

What are The Statute of Limitations For Premises Liability Claims?

One of the primary aspects to consider when determining whether or not to file a premises liability claim is the applicable statute of limitations obligation. Generally, in most cases, you have two years from the time of the incident in order to bring a claim against the liable party. It is important to take into account that each individual state has its own statutes, so it is best practice to research your specific state’s timeline for filing a legal claim for any type of personal injury.
Determining there are no such restrictions as well as researching your rights and options, can help you with making an informed decision about proceeding with a premises liability case. Making sure there are no restrictions related to filing should be an initial step in evaluating how to move forward with bringing forth an issue involving negligence-related injuries. Contact the expert premises liability attorneys at Breit Biniazan for advice and support.