At the crux of most slip and fall personal injury cases, the victim’s lawyer must prove that their client was not responsible for the accident. In addition, they must prove who was negligent and therefore responsible for paying compensation to the victim. Under some circumstances, there may be more than one party held responsible. If you were severely hurt from a slip and fall accident that wasn’t your fault, contact a professional for a brief consultation such as the lawyer locals turn to.
You’ll have the opportunity to speak with an experienced lawyer. If a PI lawyer takes your case, you are not charged for services unless a settlement wins.
Who can be held responsible for a slip and fall accident?
Every situation is different, and the differences can dramatically affect your attorney’s legal strategy as well as the probable outcome. Here are some common scenarios of slip and fall accidents and those who might be held responsible:
- Hotel owner. If a guest slips and falls on the premises and it was due to the owner’s negligence or carelessness, they might have grounds to file a damage claim for their injury-related costs. For example, if the hotel was aware of torn carpet on a stairwell but did not fix it or warn guests or close the stairway and a guest slips and falls on it, the owner might be liable.
- Parking lot owner. If someone parked their car in a pay-for-parking lot and winter weather conditions were in effect, slipping and falling on ice may not be grounds for them to file a claim. The duty of care owed to the renter from the owner may not include expected, potential weather hazards such as ice. A slip and fall lawyer would have to make that determination after looking closely at your case. However, if the parking lot attendant failed to remove debris from the lot and someone slipped and fell on it, the parking lot owner and possibly the attendant might be held responsible.
- Municipality. If a pedestrian is injured from a slip and fall accident on a sidewalk that caved in or otherwise failed, they may have grounds for a claim or lawsuit. In this scenario, they might file against the municipality responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of that sidewalk. The same is true for slip and fall accidents involving roads, such as at intersections.
What costs or damages can I include in my personal injury claim or lawsuit?
This can vary widely from case to case due to the differentiating circumstances. However, the following expenses are common to a range of slip and fall claims and lawsuits:
- Emergency medical care
- Medical treatment costs, current as well as ongoing and future procedures
- Medicine
- Specialized medical equipment such as crutches, bathtub benches, leg braces, etc.
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy (when the victim will be unable to return to their job due to their slip and fall injury)
Talk to a slip and fall lawyer about whether or not you have grounds to file a lawsuit or personal injury claim.