Many of us have had an embarrassing fall in public. Perhaps you were at work or walking through a crowded shopping mall. Wherever the fall takes place, your first reaction may be humiliation. But don't let your embarrassment get the best of you.
A fall is not always your fault. It could be that someone else's negligence led to the conditions that caused you to trip or slip, and resultantly suffer injuries.
Not sure whether someone else is liable for your fall? Please call Kelleher Law, at 833-546-3675, for a free consultation. We'll let you know if our experienced Naples, Fort Myers, and Atlanta, premises liability attorneys can help you pursue compensation. In the meantime, please see the sections below to learn more:
- Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
- Injuries Commonly Suffered
- Liability for Slip and Falls
- How to Help Your Case
- Compensation for Slip and Fall Injuries
- How Your Own Actions May Influence Your Claim
- Why You Should Consider an Experienced Lawyer
- Your Free Consultation
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
There are almost countless ways someone could fall. In claims handled by our lawyers, some of the most common causes are:
- Spilled substances
- Falling merchandise displays
- Sidewalks in disrepair
- Flooring in disrepair
- Carpeting in disrepair
- Parking lots in disrepair
- Damaged stairs
- Uneven flooring
- Improperly placed cords or wiring
- Poor lighting
- Inadequate or nonexistent handrails
Someone is not necessarily at fault just because one of these things caused your injury. The lawyers at Kelleher Law can determine if someone else's negligence is indeed a factor. It depends on whether the property was commercial, public or private, and whether you had any role in causing the fall.
Injuries Commonly Suffered
Depending on the severity of the fall, injuries can be quite serious. Falls from heights tend to be particularly catastrophic. These injuries run the gamut, but here are several commonly seen in slip and fall claims:
- Back and neck injuries
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Lacerations
- Scars and disfigurement
The most severe physical injuries will require medical care, possibly including emergency care. Such expenses quickly add up, commonly to thousands of dollars or more. Not only that, but if you are unable to work, you will be losing income alongside mounting medical costs.
A claim handled by the lawyers at Kelleher Law seeks compensation for these things and others. You should not have to suffer the life-altering consequences of your injuries, but unfortunately bad things sometimes happen because of other people's carelessness. Compensation helps you rebuild your life and get the care you need.
Liability for Slip and Fall Injuries
The linchpin of these cases is liability – is anyone actually at fault for causing the slip and fall, and by law can they be held accountable for it? It's not enough that you fell somewhere outside your own home and were injured. Someone must have been responsible for causing the conditions, or responsible for repairing a dangerous condition.
Oftentimes these claims seek to reveal whether the property owner was reasonable. Did they exercise reasonable care to keep conditions safe? Should they have known of the dangerous condition? Did they take reasonable steps to fix it? If they are legally responsible for these things, then carelessness that caused you to fall may make them liable for damages (compensation for your injuries).
How to Help Your Slip and Fall Case
After a serious trip or slip and fall, you should first seek medical care. If you are hurt, seek emergency care or a prompt doctor's appointment. We also encourage you to call our attorneys as soon as possible. After getting information about what happened, we can let you know what your options are and what you should do next.
If possible, pictures should be taken of the dangerous condition and the site of your fall. If it's a temporary condition that is easily rectified – spilled water without a warning sign, for example – then obviously the scene will be cleaned up promptly. If you are physically able, take pictures with your phone right after your fall, but don't injure yourself further.
In addition, it is a good idea to gather witness information if possible. Did someone see what happened? Try to get their name and contact information before you leave the area. Witness statements can be helpful in resolving these types of claims.
Compensation for Slip and Fall Injuries
When you pursue a claim against the at-fault party, you are asking to be justly compensated for injuries that were suffered through no fault of your own. Why should you have to suffer the financial burdens of an injury that should have been prevented?
When these claims are successful, the final compensation award may be based on many aspects of your injury, including:
- Hospital bills
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income
- Costs of rehabilitative care
- Pain and suffering
- Post-traumatic stress
- Mental anguish
As your attorneys, part of our job is to get to know the many ways this injury has affected your life. Once we learn those details, we can demonstrate to judges, juries and other relevant parties why you need and deserve this compensation. Not only is medical care expensive and often ongoing, but you also deserve compensation for the non-financial effects, such as pain and suffering.
How Your Own Actions May Influence Your Claim
If it is discovered that you were partially at fault, then any compensation award may be reduced or denied. Someone who is texting while walking on a public sidewalk could very well be partially responsible for tripping over uneven pavement. Someone running on a slippery pool deck may be partly or fully responsible for slipping, especially if "No Running" signs are posted.
Don't neglect to call us just because you think you may have played a role. These areas of responsibility and liability can be complicated and somewhat technical. We have the experience necessary to determine what is possible in your situation. Give us a call at 833-546-3675 to see where you stand.
Why You Should Consider an Experienced Lawyer
An experienced lawyer looks out for what is best for you. Insurance companies do not. Like any business, an insurance company prefers to pay out as little as possible. If you are offered a settlement, it may be far below what you actually deserve.
Your Free Consultation in Fort Myers, Naples, and Atlanta.
After suffering a severe injury in a fall, you may feel embarrassed, frustrated, and alone. Rely on us to provide the honest, clear answers you need. If someone else is in fact responsible and liable for causing the fall that injured you, then you deserve maximized compensation.
In Naples, Fort Myers, and Atlanta, GA, our experienced attorneys provide aggressive, skilled representation to injury victims from across the state. If you aren't sure if you have a case, contact us at 833-546-3675, or complete the contact form on this page. Your case evaluation is completely free and involves no obligation. We also do not charge any fees unless a compensation award is obtained – no recovery, no fee.
