Slip and Fall Accidents Are No Joke
From The Three Stooges to the classic cartoon character stepping on a banana peel, slipping and falling has been used as fodder for comedians for decades. But the reality is that slip and fall accidents are far from funny — in fact, they account for more than eight million emergency room visits per year in the US, making them the leading cause for ER visits. Falling can result in serious health problems or loss of life. If the slip and fall accident led to serious injury for you or your loved one, and is the result of another party’s negligence, you are entitled to pursue compensation for economic and noneconomic damages.
The key to recovering damages in a slip and fall case, or any personal injury claim, is to establish that there has been an act of negligence. Whether your slip and fall accident occurred on public, private, government, or commercial property, if the property owner failed to take reasonable precautions to protect the safety of those who are present on the property, a claim can be filed to seek compensation for all damages.
How the Property Owner/Manager May Be at Fault
Many slip and fall accidents take place in commercial buildings, such as grocery stores or other places of business. The business can be held responsible for your accident if one of the following is true:
The owner or an employee caused the hazard that led to the accident. If the premises owner or one of its employees spilled the substance that caused you to slip, or otherwise created an uneven or dangerous walking surface, this is an element of fault.
The owner or an employee knew about the hazard and did not correct it. If you can demonstrate that someone was aware of the dangerous condition but did not take action to repair the problem, this is a clear example of negligence.
The owner or an employee should have known about the hazardous condition. This last case is the most difficult to prove, but is a common category under which most slip and fall cases are negotiated. The standard for negligence in this area is that a reasonable person caring for the property and taking reasonable precautions would have noticed the hazard prior to the accident.
Slip and Fall Accidents: An Attorney You Can Trust
At the Law Offices of Justin D. Brandel, we know slip and fall accidents, and have a breadth of experience in personal injury cases as well as a long record of high value settlements and verdicts. Contact us to discuss the details of your case and let us help you determine how to best move forward legally.
- March 23, 2016
- 8:24 pm