Slip and Fall Injuries: Causes, Types and Compensation

Falls account for about 8 million ER visits annually, which accounts for over 21% of all patients. Slipping and falling isn’t just the leading cause of these visits but also the primary reason that people miss workdays due to injury. It isn’t just painful but can be a hard-hitting financial issue for individuals and families.

If your slip and fall injuries occurred on company property, you likely are entitled to financial compensation. The same applies if they took place in a location where a third party was negligent or careless. Read on to learn more about slip and fall cases, their causes, and the ways that you can file a claim to get your due.

What Causes Slip and Fall Injuries?

The most common causes of slip and fall injuries worldwide are wet and uneven surfaces. These surfaces cause about 55% of slip and fall accidents. The fall can be due to wet floors, loose floorboards, potholes, defective sidewalks, poorly-built staircases, waxed or mopped floors, and loose carpeting.

Improper training is another reason for slip and fall injuries. It’s easy for companies to prevent accidents at work by giving workers the knowledge, tools, and equipment needed to keep safe. This may mean discussing hazards when using machinery that people could slip on and talking about the appropriate ways to use ladders.

Harsh weather conditions also may cause people to slip and fall, especially during the winter. Employers and property owners have a legal obligation to salt walkways, shovel sidewalks, and plow streets. If they don’t do this and someone falls, it’s easy for a plaintiff’s attorney to prove fault.

Improper footwear such as high heels can also cause slip and fall cases. Employers must educate workers on appropriate footwear for their jobs to avoid fault in such occurrences. A dress code also might go a long way in preventing these injuries.

The Top Types of Slip and Fall Claims

There are many different types of personal injury claims due to slip and fall occurrences. This is because falling can cause a plethora of different health problems.

One common type of case seeks compensation for broken bones or a severe fracture. Sprained ankles or wrists also can lead to similar claims. You will likely get higher compensation for more severe injuries that cause higher medical bills.

Some other minor injuries that may lead to slip and fall cases include muscle strain, shoulder dislocation, bruises, knee damage, and even cuts.

Spine and nerve damage is a more severe type of slip and fall case. Your spine is a column of bones that protects your spinal cord, which contains a lot of nerves that send signals throughout your body. These falls can have catastrophic consequences including paralysis, so you will need to seek instant medical attention before filing your claim.

Traumatic brain injury is even more serious because it can lead to death. While these injuries are less common than fractures and bruises, they can cause long-term brain damage and serious mental and physical disabilities. You may be entitled to millions of dollars of compensation in more extreme cases, so make sure that you hire an attorney who knows how to get a high settlement.

What Do You Need to Prove to Recieve Compensation?

There are two things that you need to prove to receive compensation after slipping and falling. The first is negligence and fault on the part of the third party that caused the accident.

In order not to be held liable, the person or organization that your claim is against must have taken all reasonable precautions to prevent injury. This means taking action to ensure that hazards that led to your slip and fall were not present. If the party did not take these reasonable actions, proving fault will be simple for an experienced attorney.

Some reasons that the employer or property owner may be at fault include:

• Unremoved obstacles and hazardous conditions
• No action taken to eliminate known hazards
• No policies about checking regularly for potential safety hazards
• Not having documentation or records showcasing that they followed these policies
• The lack of reasonable justification for the hazard that caused the fall
• The lack of warning signs around the area of the hazard
• Unrestricted access to the area in which the hazard resided
• Insufficient hazard and risk training for employees

The second thing you will need to prove is that you are not responsible for the accident. The employer, property owner, or insurance company will always try to search for conditions that make the accident your fault. You need to prove that there were no ways that you could have prevented the accident with the help of an attorney.

How Can You Get Your Due?

The first step towards getting your due is to hire an experienced personal injury attorney. They will go to the site of the accident and look for the hazards that caused your injury. The lawyer will then compare their findings with images and eyewitness accounts to get a clearer picture of what happened.

At this point, your attorney will negotiate settlement offers with the insurance company responsible for providing compensation. These companies don’t want to give you the full sum that you’re owed, but lawyers can help you to get the best possible compensation.

You generally will be compensated for medical bills and the wages that you lost due to time off work. In some cases, you may also be awarded money for pain and suffering. Your attorney will value your claim and work tirelessly to get you the best possible financial offer.

Start the Process of Claiming Damages

While insurance companies don’t want to provide fair compensation for personal injury claims, hiring the right lawyer can help you to get your due. Now that you know the ins and outs of slip and fall injuries, it’s time to begin the process of filing a claim.

Our experts are committed to helping you get the highest possible financial compensation for your economic strife and suffering. Since we have over a decade of experience and charge you nothing unless we win your case, you can’t go wrong when working with our team. Contact us for a free consultation to get started with your legal proceedings.