Slip-and-Fall Accidents: What You Need to Know
Slip-and-Fall Accidents: What You Need to Know
The impact from slip-and-fall accidents may cause herniated discs, fractured vertebrae or head injuries. This accident happens on public streets, home residencies and businesses. Along with pain and suffering, the average slip-and-fall accident costs victims between $30,000 to $40,000. Property owners who neglect the property and create hazardous conditions could face liability for the victim’s injuries.
Some of the things you may receive compensation for include:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages
Falls will most commonly break bones, but the accidents could be worse than that in some cases.
Hire the Right Law Firm
If you decide to take legal action, you want the right lawyer to represent you. The lawyer presents pertinent information to the court and ensures that your legal rights never get trampled upon. Goldberg & Oriel have practiced law in Boston for over 40 years. Their expert-level experience shows that they have the understanding to represent your case.
Most Common Places for Accidents
- Slippery floors
- Staircases and ramps
- Cluttered hallways
- Uneven surfaces
- Poorly lit areas
You Have Rights
When the accident happens because of the negligence of the property owner, they may be held liable. In many cases, you don’t have to sue the person directly, but you can file a claim with their insurance company to obtain insurance money. This legal recompense covers you for the injuries that took place. In some cases, a slip-and-fall injury can change your life forever. Because of that, you deserve compensation for the injuries suffered.
Circumstances Determine the Lawsuit
Some believe that you can simply sue if you suffered an injury on someone else’s property, but you would be mistaken if you thought that. To determine liability, you must show that someone else’s negligent actions caused your injuries. In some cases, if the accident happened because of recklessness, you may not be entitled to compensation. You need to speak with a law firm in Massachusetts to learn more.
Proving Fault
To file a lawsuit, you need to prove that the other party’s negligence led to your injury. We all have a legal responsibility to watch our step. Provided the property owner took the right measures to prevent fall injuries, you may find filing a claim difficult.
Some of the things that would make a property owner liable for your slip-and-fall accident include:
- Owner had to have known about the hazard and failed to act.
- The owner or employee caused a spill that led to accident.
- Any reasonable owner would have taken actions to remove obstructions.
“Should have known better” cases usually get decided in court based on common sense. These claims hinge on whether the property owner acted reasonably. If he failed to act responsibly, he could face liability. Proving this requires the expertise of a qualified lawyer because it is difficult to show that the property owner knew about the hazards beforehand.
Did You Act Carelessly?
You may have had a case where you acted irresponsibly, and under those circumstances, a slip and fall accident attorney may be unable to help. Would a careful person, for example, have noticed the trip hazard? Also, were you doing something that distracted you and caused you to fall? In some cases, you may have been jumping, running or playing around, which led to the accident.
When you speak with the insurance adjuster, take extra caution to describe your actions in detail to show that you weren’t acting recklessly. It’s best to have your lawyer present when you do this.
Example of a Liability Case
Wet floors give you one example of a time where the circumstances surrounding it can play a role in liability. How long was the floor wet? A floor that was wet for longer may prove an easier claim against a store owner because of how they would have had more time to know about it. Anyone injured in a slip-and-fall accident should take down the contact information of witnesses because this can prove liability from their account later.
In particular, it can be helpful when the witness remained in the area for a longer time because they can talk about how long the owner had to know about the hazards.
What if You Were the Owner of the Property?
Hire a qualified team of experienced lawyers who can defend your rights. Despite what you may have heard, people who slip and fall on your property can’t always file a lawsuit. The property owner doesn’t have to ensure the safety of the visitors because accidents happen. Failure to exercise the proper care marks out one of the most common defenses that people use in a lawsuit against them.
Having a personal injury attorney on hand can protect your rights. The spine is home to over 100 billion nerves, and a fall injury that hurt the spine is guaranteed to be painful. You could suffer from a lifetime of disabilities and possible neurological impairments. After an accident, collect evidence, such as taking photos, gathering witness accounts, seeking medical attention and contacting an attorney. You want to receive an immediate medical examination because the more time that passes, the easier it becomes for the other party to blame your injuries on something else. That is one of the biggest mistakes that we see our clients make.
When you speak with the insurance adjuster, take extra caution to describe your actions in detail to show that you weren’t acting recklessly. It’s best to have your lawyer present when you do this.
Example of a Liability Case
Wet floors give you one example of a time where the circumstances surrounding it can play a role in liability. How long was the floor wet? A floor that was wet for longer may prove an easier claim against a store owner because of how they would have had more time to know about it. Anyone injured in a slip-and-fall accident should take down the contact information of witnesses because this can prove liability from their account later.
In particular, it can be helpful when the witness remained in the area for a longer time because they can talk about how long the owner had to know about the hazards.
What if You Were the Owner of the Property?
Hire a qualified team of experienced lawyers who can defend your rights. Despite what you may have heard, people who slip and fall on your property can’t always file a lawsuit. The property owner doesn’t have to ensure the safety of the visitors because accidents happen. Failure to exercise the proper care marks out one of the most common defenses that people use in a lawsuit against them.
Having a personal injury attorney on hand can protect your rights. The spine is home to over 100 billion nerves, and a fall injury that hurt the spine is guaranteed to be painful. You could suffer from a lifetime of disabilities and possible neurological impairments. After an accident, collect evidence, such as taking photos, gathering witness accounts, seeking medical attention and contacting an attorney. You want to receive an immediate medical examination because the more time that passes, the easier it becomes for the other party to blame your injuries on something else. That is one of the biggest mistakes that we see our clients make.