| Many thousands of people are injured annually - some very badly - when they slip or stumble and fall on a flight of stairs, a rough patch of ground or a wet floor.
Since property owners have responsibility for maintaining safety on the premises and warning visitors of possible hazards, they can be held liable for injuries that happen due to dangerous conditions on their property. Slip-and-fall accidents can result in many types of injuries, ranging from the comparatively mild to the extremely severe.
A slip-and-fall accident can occur nearly anywhere, on private or public property, outside and inside. A slip-and-fall injury can occur due to hazards such as:
• Bad weather conditions (for instance, ice, snow, or rain)
• Uneven sidewalks
• Potholes
• Badly lit or unmarked pathways or stairs
• Slippery tiling
• Unbalanced flooring
• Rippled carpet
• A foreign matter on the floor or walkway
Slip-and-fall injuries range in severity. An injured person may suffer broken bones, bruises and scrapes that require minimal medical care and heal relatively promptly. Other victims suffer a colossal personal injury – a spine injury, a brain injury, or a burn injury – that brings on lifelong damage and needs lasting medical care. In the worst case scenario, the victim dies because of his or her injuries. If this occurs, and the accident occurred because of the property owner's negligence, then the death is considered wrongful and can be litigated as such.
The sooner you file a suit after the injury, the better off you will probably be. Most slip-and-fall injury lawsuits are lodged within thirty days of the injury, as if you wait too long, it may look like you are attempting to lodge a frivolous suit instead of a legitimate one. If there is a hint of frivolity in your case, you are more likely to get it dismissed.
A slip-and-fall lawyer will tell you that you should first make an appointment with your doctor to see the extent of your injuries. This will prove that you did indeed suffer an injury resulting from a slip-and-fall accident, and can be valuable in your case. You must keep close records of the medical care you received, as well as records of any work you missed and the amount of money it cost you. Any extra costs, including medicines, transportation, physical therapy, and the like should also be thoroughly recorded. There expenses can be paid back, if you win the lawsuit. |
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