Category : Slip and Fall
Slip and fall accidents are serious, and if you have recently suffered an injured as the result of a fall while on the job, in a public space, or while at home, you might be facing surgery, prolonged home rest, and therapy. You should not wait until your health has improved before taking action and learning about your legal rights.
Common Slip and Fall Injuries
If you have been injured in a slip-fall, you might feel like you’re the only person who is suffering. Since more than 8 million people in the United States alone are hurt in slip-fall injuries, your situation may be more common than you think.
The resulting injuries, however, can vary widely, including:
- Strains and sprains
- Separation of the shoulder
- Nerve damage
- Broken bones
- Head injury
- Dislocation of the shoulder
- Tissue damage such as bruising, scraping, or tearing
Your Employer’s Responsibility
Your place of work might look like any typical office, but it’s possible that slight damage to stairs, flooring, elevators, escalators, and parking lots could have caused your slip and fall injury.
If you were hurt in the workplace, consider these warning signs of unsafe conditions:
- Failure to provide appropriate signage warning employees of possible slip-falls
- Leaving a floor partially untreated
- Applying wax or other shine products to an inclined floor
- Using too much polish or wax
- Ignoring proper barricade techniques for exceptionally wet or slippery floors
- Leaving elevators and escalators in any form of disrepair, including mechanical issues that may cause an elevator to “jerk” while in motion
- Keeping stairways in use with broken, warped, worn, or rounded steps
- Failing to provide a handrail for stairways
Learn more about slip-fall accidents, causes, and how to get in touch with a slip-fall attorney.
Has your child ever suffered a slip and fall accident while running by the swimming pool? Skidding on spilled milk at the school cafeteria? Tripping over an unsecured rug at home? Children and the elderly are at special risk for balance-related accidents. Seniors are more prone to hip and shoulder injuries, while kids tend to fracture arms and wrists.
Accidents don’t have to result in injuries, some of which may lead to surgery or lawsuits. You can learn to identify hazardous environments and to take preventive measures to protect your kids. Preserving their bone health now can reduce their risk of problems as they age.
Strong Bones Discourage Slip and Fall Injuries
Getting adequate exercise strengthens growing bones and muscles. Well-toned muscles can improve balance and reflex action in the event of a slip, and possibly prevent a fall. If your youngster does take a tumble, stronger bones will be less likely to fracture. In the event of a severe blow, however, a broken bone that is otherwise healthy will mend better and more fully. The Center for Disease Control offers guidelines on exercise and diet for healthy bones in every age group.
Physical fitness will only get your child so far in avoiding slip and falls, though. Obstacles and wet surfaces in the environment will generate a number of spills. Running, jumping, and playing raise the danger of a bone fracture or head injury caused by a fall.
“Bone up” on the risks of swimming pools, bathrooms, and floor spills at the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Injuries from slip and fall cruise ship accidents can result in multiple bone fractures.
Protect yourself from slip and falls by:
- Wearing rubber-soled shoes on deck and tile surfaces
- Using handrails as you move about the ship in rain or fog
- Taking special care around swimming pool areas
Protect yourself from trips by:
- Stepping over water guards in certain doorways
- Using handrails when weather causes more ship movement
- Drinking alcohol in moderation
If you feel that negligence or poor maintenance on the part of a cruise ship resulted in your slip, trip or fall, document your injuries and seek medical help. A maritime personal injury lawyer can represent you in your port state.
Browse our library to learn more about cruise ship accidents.
National statistics indicate that slip and fall accident injuries are a significant health and safety concern in the United States. Slip and falls can wreck havoc on a victim’s life and those around the victim in a multitude of ways.
Here are a few of the negative impacts of slip and fall accidents and injuries:
- Mental anxiety and stress
- Lasting physical pain and injury
- Disability
- Inability to return to work
- Financial stress from medical bills and lost wages
- Drastic change in lifestyle and quality of life
To learn more about the physical and financial impact of slip and fall accidents, visit our library.
Filing a personal injury lawsuit in the case of a slip and fall accident can be a daunting, oftentimes necessary, task. If you have recently been seriously injured in a slip and fall and are considering filing a personal injury claim against the parties you feel are responsible, it is important to act quickly to preserve your rights.
Listed below are a few things to know about filing a personal injury lawsuit:
- There must be a party that is legally responsible for your slip and fall accident
- There should be evidence of negligence, intentional wrong or product defect
- You must choose a settlement that is fair and reasonable and in alignment with your injuries
For more information on personal injury lawsuits, read our new article Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit.
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident and are considering filing a personal injury lawsuit, one of the most important ways to help your case is to collect and preserve evidence of the accident and the conditions that led to your injuries.
Listed below are some key ways to collect and preserve evidence after a slip and fall accident:
Return to the scene of the accident or send a trusted friend or family member, if your injuries prevent you from traveling and document the conditions of the accident scene, paying special attention to factors that contributed to the fall
- Document the injury with doctor’s reports and photographic evidence of the injury
- Obtain a copy of the police report for the accident
- Locate witnesses of your accident, or those who have witnessed similar accidents in the same locale
Learn more about filing a personal injury lawsuit.
Property owners are responsible for maintaining safe premises in order to protect individuals from injury, such as those caused by slip and fall accidents. When a property owner fails to follow basic safety protocol, they are liable for the injuries that occur on their property because of their negligence.
Listed below are a few examples of careless or negligent property maintenance that can lead to slip and fall accidents and injuries:
Improperly marked steps
- Loose floorboards
- Ice and snow-covered parking lots and sidewalks
- Obstructed walkways
- Over-waxed or wet floors
When selecting a personal injury attorney you”ll want to ask critical questions such as: how long have you been practicing law; do you have experience with slip and fall accident and injury cases; what is the biggest settlement or verdict you have won?
Nationally speaking, slip and fall accidents cause a significant number of serious injuries and fatalities each year, measuring relatively high when compared with other types of accidents.
Here are a few slip and fall accident statistics:
- Slip and falls are one of the leading causes of accidental fatalities and permanent disabilities in the country, second only to vehicular crashes.
- 70% of slip and fall accidents occur at public buildings (including hotels and restaurants).
Visit our library for more information on slip and fall accidents and injuries.
Slip and fall accidents can lead to a variety of personal injuries and disabilities. Some of the more common and frightening types of injuries associated with slip and falls are traumatic brain injuries, which can include concussions, skull fractures and persistent vegetative states.
Here are some treatment options for traumatic brain injuries:
- Surgery
- Speech therapy
- Physical rehabilitation
- Pain medications and treatments
- Occupational therapy
It is important to note that not all forms of head and brain injury will respond to treatment. Also, many types of medical treatment for traumatic brain injuries require a serious investment of time and money, and the road to recovery can be intense.
Browse our library to learn more about slip and fall injuries.
A slip and fall accident can leave you with serious personal injuries and completely change your life. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, a personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights and determine liability. Most states have a statute of limitations that may prohibit you from filing a lawsuit if too much time has passed.
Property owners are legally responsible for maintaining safe premises in order to ensure that others are reasonably protected from injury and death on their property. Those that fail to provide a safely maintained property put individuals at risk for accidents, including slip and fall injuries.
Slip and fall accidents often can result in the following types of injuries:
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones and fractured skulls
- Back injuries
- Permanent disability
Browse our library to learn more about slip and fall accidents and issues of liability.
When selecting a personal injury attorney you’ll want to ask critical questions such as:
- How long have you been practicing law?
- Do you have experience with slip and fall accident cases?
- What is the biggest settlement or verdict you have won?
