| Falls are systematically the leading cause of injury-triggering accidents. Thousands of people are injured yearly - some very badly - when they slip or stumble and fall on a rough patch of ground, a dangerous floor or a flight of stairs.
Since property owners are responsible for maintaining safety on their premises and warning visitors of potential hazards, they can be liable for injuries that occur because of injury-producing conditions on their property. Slip-and-fall accidents can lead to many types of injuries, ranging from the relatively mild to life-threatening.
A slip-and-fall accident can occur almost anywhere, on private or public property, indoors or outdoors. A slip-and-fall injury can occur due to the following hazards: slippery tiling, unbalanced flooring, rippled carpet or foreign matters on the floor or walkway, adverse weather conditions (for instance, ice, snow, or rain), uneven sidewalks, potholes, badly lit or unmarked pathways or stairs
Typical injuries resulting from slip-and-fall accidents range in severity. An injured person may sustain broken bones, scrapes and bruises which require minimal medical care and heal comparatively promptly. Others may suffer a catastrophic personal injury – a brain injury, vertebral injury, or burn injury – that leads to lifelong damage and needs lasting medical treatment. In the worst case scenario, the victim dies because of his or her injuries. If this happens, and the accident happened due to the property owner's negligence, then the death is believed to be wrongful and can be litigated as such.
The sooner you lodge a lawsuit after the injury, the better off you will probably be. Most slip-and-fall injury lawsuits are filed within thirty days of the injury, as if you wait too long, it may look like you are attempting to file a frivolous lawsuit instead of a legitimate one. If there is a hint of frivolity in your case, your lawsuit is likely to be dismissed.
After a slip-and-fall accident you should first consult your medical practitioner to see the severity of your injury. This will prove that you did indeed suffer a slip-and-fall injury, and can be invaluable in your case. You must keep close records of the medical aid you received, and records of any work you missed and the amount of money it cost you. Any added costs, such as trabsportation, medicines, physical therapy, and the like should also be thoroughly recorded. There expenses can be reimbursed, if you win the suit. |
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