Things You Need to Know About Slip and Fall Injuries
The slip and fall has been a cornerstone of slapstick comedy for over a hundred years. Unfortunately, in the real world slip and fall injuries can be a serious problem. If you suffer from a slip and fall injury, you may have grounds for a Premises Liability case. In the instance of an injury, what should you do?
Slip and Fall Injuries: What You Need to Know
According to the National Floor Safety Institute falls account for over 8 million hospital emergency room visits, representing the leading cause of visits (21.3%). Slips and falls account for over 1 million visits, or 12% of total falls. With statistics like that it’s important to know what your options are if you suffer from a slip and fall accident. After consulting a medical professional it’s important to call an experienced slip and fall lawyer who can guide you through the process of obtaining the compensation you are entitled to.
Who is Liable in a Slip and Fall Accident
In order to be held liable for a slip and fall in most states, the property owner or occupant (or an employee) must be found to be negligent. This means that the owner or occupant must have caused or been aware of the spill or other hazardous condition that contributed to the accident and not have taken the necessary steps to remove or correct it. Negligence is defined by the Cornell School of Law with four points which are as follows:
- the existence of a legal duty that the defendant owed to the plaintiff
- defendant’s breach of that duty
- plaintiff’s sufferance of an injury
- proof that defendant’s breach caused the injury
Businesses and property owners have a legal and moral duty to maintain their premises in such a way as it is easy to traverse and occupy without fear of injury. Most commonly, these injuries happen because the property has not been properly maintained. We can all think of a time we went somewhere and encountered one of these common hazards that could cause a slip and fall injury.
Most Common Causes of a Slip and Fall Injury
Slip and fall injuries often occur when a hazard is present. It’s imperative to be aware of these hazards. According to the National Safety Council Slip and fall injuries were the number 3 cause of missing days of work due to workplace injury. Some of the most common causes for slip and fall injuries are as follows:
- Wet or oily surfaces that create a slippery condition
- Spills that are not promptly cleaned up
- Unanchored floorboards, rugs or mats
- Weather conditions such as snow, sleet and ice
- Floors or walking surfaces with variable traction
- Uneven floors or walking surfaces
- Poor or uneven lighting
- Exposed cables in the walkway
- Missing or broken hand or guardrails on stairs
Types of Slip and Fall Injuries
These are some of the common injuries that can occur from a slip and fall:
Soft Tissue Injuries: Soft tissue injuries are internal injuries and the lack of outward visibility can make them difficult to prove in a lawsuit. If you suffer a soft tissue injury you may not notice the injury until days, or even weeks, after the initial fall. Soft tissue injuries range from ankle and wrist sprains to major tears in tendons and ligaments. A sprain occurs when the muscles or tendons in a part of the body are pushed beyond the standard range of motion. If the sprain is severe enough the tendons or ligaments affected by the sprain can be pushed so far beyond the standard range of motion that a tear occurs and the affected tendon separates from itself. Because these injuries may not make themselves apparent imminently following your slip and fall accident, please consult a medical professional if you believe you have suffered a soft tissue injury.
Head injuries: When you suffer from a slip and fall you run the chance of hitting your head. The impact of your head against the floor or another foreign object can cause a number of injuries. A concussion according to the CDC is “A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.” If this happens to you please seek immediate medical attention. Concussions can lead to a number of issues such as nausea, blurred vision, slurred speech, difficulty concentrating and an injury induced decline in your mental acumen.
Broken Bones: A broken bone is always a risk when you fall. Depending on how far you fall or how you land. Whether you fall from an elevated surface or simply trip on uneven terrain. As we age, the risk of broken bones due to a slip and fall injury increases. Due to the increasing fragility of our bones and the slowing of our reflexes injuries to the hips, wrists, arms or knees can occur. Broken bones can range from fractures to major breaks that may damage surrounding tissue or cause internal bleeding. If you suffer from a slip and fall injury and believe you may have a broken bone. Please consult a doctor as soon as possible. In order to properly diagnose a broken bone, you will need to have an x-ray done.
Back or Spinal Cord Injury: A slip and fall injury can result in the spinal cord being compressed or severed. Injuries to the spinal cord are life-changing and often life-threatening. Depending on the severity of a spinal cord injury you can suffer from either full or partial paralysis of the body.
Steps to Take Following Your Injury
The first thing you should do after a slip and fall injury is to contact an experienced medical professional for an examination. This will allow injuries to be addressed, uncovered and allow you to begin receiving treatment for your injuries. The next step would be to contact an experienced slip and fall attorney to discuss your potential case. Be sure to bring any documentation you may have to give to your attorney. Doing so will allow them to determine what the best options will be regarding your case. An experienced lawyer will recognize if there is an opportunity to pursue damages for your slip and fall injury. In addition our experienced slip and fall lawyers have an extensive background of legal knowledge and experience that would be an asset in any suit brought against the property manager where the injury occurred.
Call Today For a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one was hurt because of a property owner’s negligence or carelessness, get the medical care and legal advice you need. If you have a premises liability case, get strong legal representation to make sure you get the maximum amount of compensation to which you are entitled. Call (202) 933-1918 for your free consultation. Or contact us via our website.