Slip and fall accidents are among the most common types of accidents, and account for many injuries each and every year. Anyone can experience this type of accident, but knowing how slip and fall accidents happen can help you try to avoid them. The following information is offered in the hopes of helping prevent slip and fall accidents. If you or a loved one sustains a fall, be sure to reach out to a skilled premises liability attorney right away to determine your rights under the law.
How do most slip and fall accidents occur?
Numerous factors can contribute to slip and fall accidents. In many cases, floor or ground conditions are to blame.
Interior floors
Many indoor slip and fall accidents are brought on by conditions such as:
- Wet floors
- Broken flooring
- Loose or bunched carpeting
- Rugs placed without adequate slip protection
- Substances left spilled on flooring
- Poor lighting conditions
- Cords left loose on the floor
- Objects placed in walkways or doorways
Exterior floors
Fall accidents that occur outside are brought on by conditions such as:
- Uneven pavement
- Potholes
- Ground holes
- Broken or missing handrails
- Accumulation of snow or ice
- Missing or uneven steps
If you lose your balance and sustain a fall, the resulting injuries can be serious and the effects long-lasting. Understanding your legal rights can help you get the compensation you deserve when a slip and fall accident was caused by the negligence of another party.
What should I do after a slip and fall accident?
The most important step is to secure your immediate medical needs. Slip and fall accidents can cause many different types of injuries, including:
- Cuts and abrasions
- Back injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Fractured bones
- Head and brain injuries
- Pelvic injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
Be sure to seek immediate medical attention if you are in pain after a slip and fall accident. Also, having medical professionals assess and treat your injuries establishes a record of treatment. That can be very helpful in the event you decide to take legal action in the matter.
Once your medical needs are addressed, be sure to report the accident. Notify the owner, landlord, or manager of the property about your injury. If possible, get a written report on the accident.
Take steps to document any details about the accident. This includes obtaining contact information for any witnesses, as well as taking photographs of the site of the fall and surrounding conditions. It’s often helpful to write down your recollection of the events that led to the slip and fall accident. Those details can fade very quickly, and can complicate your case if you decide to pursue legal action in the matter.
It’s important to avoid making any statements regarding the accident. Secure the services of an experienced attorney before you speak with anyone about the incident. This includes making comments through social media. Far too often, seemingly innocent comments about an accident are used to try and delegitimize someone’s claim.
How can an attorney help me with a slip and fall accident claim?
Perhaps the most important step in the process of seeking legal action after a slip and fall accident is to determine if your circumstances are appropriate for a lawsuit. This area of law is known as premises liability, and requires a skilled hand and an experienced approach.
Your attorney will sit down and go over the specifics of your case. They’ll review the details and let you know if a slip and fall accident case is the right course of action.
If you decide to move forward, your attorney handles all of the paperwork required to prepare and file your lawsuit. They’ll ensure that the proper deadlines are met and that your case adheres to local rules regarding how to file, how to serve the other party, and how to move your case through the legal process.
Premises liability attorneys are highly skilled at negotiating with property owners and management. They also understand how to negotiate with insurance companies to get a fair and favorable settlement for their clients. Once you hire a premises liability attorney to take care of your legal rights, you can relax in the knowledge that your case will be handled properly and with care.
You can help move the process forward by providing any requested documents to your attorney in a timely manner. Be sure to present all of the circumstances that led up to the slip and fall accident. The more information you provide, the easier it is for your attorney to present a clear and compelling case.
Most slip and fall accidents never go before a court of law. They’re settled outside of court between the parties. That said, if your case does eventually make its way to court, your attorney will be there to guide you through the process and fight on your behalf.
