When someone visits a store or restaurant, suffering severe injuries due to a slip and fall accident is the last thing they expect. Even so, falls are among the leading causes of preventable injuries across the United States. Although older customers are more likely to suffer a fall, these severe accidents can affect all ages.
The general rule is that businesses have a legal duty to customers and other individuals visiting their premises. If you have injuries resulting from a slip and fall accident, you can pursue a claim for compensation against the business owner. However, slip and fall claims and other premises liability cases can raise complex legal issues best handled by an experienced premises liability attorney.
As an accident victim, you’re likely to have questions about pursuing a claim after an accident. We can help.
Additionally, we appreciate that every accident victim has several choices when it comes to selecting an attorney. We set ourselves apart from other personal injury law firms by offering custom-tailored representation to each client, regardless of the extent of their injuries. We have more than 25 years of experience representing clients in all types of slip and fall claims and are ready to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
What Are the Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents?
Any kind of hazard can result in a slip and fall accident. Without a doubt, establishments like grocery stores and restaurants experience a higher rate of slip and fall accidents, but falls can occur at any type of business location.
Here is a list of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents.
- Chairs and tables with defects
- Uneven surfaces
- Unsecured equipment or furniture
- Stairs with defects
- Loose or missing handrails
- Debris
- Potholes
- Cracked pavement
- Excessive slick flooring
- Spilled liquids and other products
- Wet floors
- Slippery weather conditions
- Electrical wires
- Unmarked hazards
- Poor lighting
Often, a customer is not responsible for a particular hazard regardless of the cause of a slip and fall accident. Clients who suffer injuries in a premises liability accident should consult a reputable personal injury lawyer to evaluate their case.
How to Establish Liability in a Slip and Fall Accident
The handling of premises liability cases varies across states, but a few principles are almost universally applicable. For example, when it comes to business invitees (which includes restaurant guests and customers), businesses should warn visitors of all known hazards that may present a safety risk.
Also, property owners and business employees should conduct a reasonable inspection of their property to identify latent hazards that guests may not be aware of.
Under these principles, recovering compensation for a slip and fall may be possible only if a business was or should have been aware of the specific hazard that harmed the customer.
For instance, imagine a grocery store customer dropping a jar of pickles on the floor and failing to mention the same to an employee. If another customer slips on the puddle of pickle juice a few seconds after walking down the aisle, before an employee could reasonably have been expected to discover the hazard, the victim may not have the grounds for a claim against the store.
Most successful slip and fall cases involve a hazard that was, or should have been, known to the business in question. When that is the case, a store’s efforts to warn guests of such a hazard comes into question.
One of the questions that may come up in a situation like this one is whether or not one of the employees places a “wet floor” sign after noticing the spill before rushing to grab a mop for cleaning up the mess.
Although premises liability cases may appear straightforward, stores and their insurance companies often have a defense ready. For that reason, accident victims should consider having on their side an experienced slip and fall lawyer capable of advocating on their behalf to help them obtain the compensation they deserve.
We Are Here to Help Slip and Fall Accident Victims
When you suffer injuries after a slip and fall accident, you can seek compensation for your injuries. Unfortunately, the road to financial recovery can present you with several hurdles along the way. That’s why we are here to help you navigate the personal injury recovery process.
Over more than two decades of practice, our veteran personal injury attorneys have diligently represented accident victims and their families in all kinds of slip and fall claims, including those occurring at grocery stores, restaurants, and other retail setups. Each of our clients gains access to dedicated representation from the moment they choose us to represent them.
We know the legal process can be confusing, so taking time to explain the claims process in understandable terms is one of our priorities. Throughout the course of your claim, we promise to provide updates on all developments. Our overarching objective, as we fight for the compensation you deserve, is providing you and your family invaluable peace of mind.
We want to handle everything to not only allow you sufficient time to focus on your healing process but also withdraw the pressure of pursuing legal action while trying to seek the best medical services. You’ve got enough on your plate as it is.
When the fall has just occurred, you can’t be sure how long you will remain at the hospital or what interventions will need to treat the injuries you sustained. What you can be sure of, though, is that failing to get the compensation you deserve after a slip and fall accident can put a huge dent in your finances, especially as the medical expenses continue to pile up.
You need compensation to cover those costs and allow you to live a comfortable life as you heal, either at a health facility or back at home. An experienced slip and fall accident lawyer is just the person to turn to for help getting the maximum amount of compensation available to you.