Whether you are strolling along in a grocery store or window shopping in a mall, you should never be surprised to see a “wet floor” sign lurking about somewhere in the vicinity. As the employees strive to keep the building clean, they must warn visitors of potential hazards in the area. This includes instances of a bit of water sticking around on the floor in puddles that may cause some individuals to slip and fall.
What happens, though, when they forget to leave up this crucial sign? People are more likely to miss the presence of water or other wet, hazardous substances, and therefore face a higher risk of injury as a result of a fall. If this has been your experience, the knowledgeable slip and fall accident lawyers at Rutter Mills will work with you to ensure you receive the compensation that you rightfully deserve for the injuries incurred during your fall. Here’s what to keep in mind as you pursue legal action in the event of such an accident.
What to Know About Slip-and-Fall Accident Claims
Fortunately, slip-and-fall incidents are quite straightforward. This is a type of accident in which the victim was injured as a result of slipping or tripping on a substance on property belonging to someone else. The key here is that the victim was present on another individual’s property. If you were to fall in your own home, your injury would not constitute a slip-and-fall case. Here’s why: There are a few things you must prove when pursuing a case for compensation after this type of accident.
- There was a “dangerous condition.” You must prove that conditions on the individual’s property were a direct danger to your safety and that they clearly contributed to your fall. A “dangerous condition” is an unreasonable, unpredictable risk that endangers the individuals occupying the area.
- The property owner was responsible and aware of the dangerous condition. This is crucial to appropriately assign liability in your case. The property owner and their insurance agency will do all they can to disprove your account of the event. They will attempt to place the blame solely on you to avoid giving compensation. When tackling this element of your case, you must prove that one or more of the following statements is true of the property owner:
- They caused the dangerous condition.
- They were aware of the dangerous condition before your fall, yet neglected to resolve the problem.
- The dangerous condition was present on the property for long enough that the property owner could have been made aware of, and resolved, the issue.
These factors can only be proven of someone other than yourself in the event of a slip-and-fall injury, so you can file a claim as long as the fall took place on another individual’s property.
Types of Injuries You May Incur in a Slip-and-Fall Incident
These types of accidents may seem largely inconsequential, but you may have incurred one of the following types of injuries during your fall:
- Spinal cord injury
- Lacerations or bruises
- Fractures or sprains
- Traumatic brain injury (most likely, a concussion)
If any of these describe your physical condition, you are entitled to compensation for the medical expenses you’ve incurred. To file a claim for your slip-and-fall injury, get in touch with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. They’ll ensure that you receive precisely what you need to recover from your fall and to hold the appropriate parties responsible for the incident.
