Slip and fall accidents can have serious unforeseen consequences. For some people—especially adults over age 65—broken hips, head injuries, and other unintentional injuries are a leading cause of death in the United States, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Overall, nearly 200,000 deaths occur per year from falling and other unintentional accidents, the organization says.
After a slip and fall injury occurs, do not wait if you want to secure legal representation to protect and defend your rights. Contacting a lawyer can be one step toward recovering damages from even the most seemingly benign accidents. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, at (855) 933-4005 to work with a Houston slip and fall injury lawyer as soon as possible.
About Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents happen for several reasons. When you present your case to us for review, it is our priority to thoroughly investigate to determine who is liable in the accident and if negligence is an issue.
The Cost of Falls
Injuries from a slip and fall accident can range from mild to severe. In people over age 65, decreased mobility, degenerative bone diseases like osteoporosis, and even previous fall incidents can increase the risk of fatal complications after a fall.
Medical expenses for treatment also increase after a fall. The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reports that more than $34.5 billion in medical costs were associated with the treatment of nonfatal falls. But people over age 65 are not the only ones who suffer serious injuries from something as simple as falling.
Older adults and children are most likely to suffer from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) after an unintentional accident, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Although the exact cost of treatment for a traumatic brain injury will be unique to each case, this type of unpredictable accident is something that few people can plan for, let alone handling the cost of medical bills.
Of course, other physical tolls and nonmonetary costs are associated with recovering from a serious slip and fall injury accident. A few of the most common injuries after a fall include:
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- Broken or fractured bones: Bones are most likely to break in the wrist, arm, ankle, and hip.
- Head injuries: Severe bleeding can happen from a fall to a person who is taking blood thinners.
Emotional trauma: Recovering from an accident that seemingly happened out of nowhere can be traumatic for anyone. One such example is the fear of falling or tripping again, which is common among seniors. This can make risks worse as seniors avoid physical activity and lose the strength or coordination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The list above is not exhaustive of all the potential injuries you may suffer after an accident. Plus, in similar accidents, injuries may not appear immediately. When you consider your legal options after a slip and fall accident, you might want to consider the short- and long-term costs, too.
A Houston slip and fall injury lawyer can give you a full scope of the costs and implications you might deal with in the long run.
For a free legal consultation with a slip and fall injury lawyer serving Houston, call (855) 933-4005
Legal Options for Houston Slip and Fall Accidents
After a slip and fall accident, you can contact the offices of Ben Crump Law, PLLC, to explore your legal options. Our legal team will review the details of your situation and explain your options from the start, so you do not have to wait to take action.
The civil court system can handle slip and fall cases, even cases involving abuse, or neglect cases, such as slipping and falling in a nursing home. The foundation of most slip and fall injury cases is negligent behavior from a property owner or someone else who failed to let you know about a slipping hazard in advance.
Evidence of Negligence in Slip and Fall Accidents
You can slip and fall almost anywhere if the conditions are just right. In many cases, slip and fall accidents are preventable with proper precautions or regular maintenance to an area with slipping hazards, as in some of the following:
- Pavement that is cracked, uneven, or loose
- Slippery flooring, or flooring that is improperly installed or partially removed without signage
- Spills or unmarked areas of leaks
- Poor visibility
- Unmarked construction site materials like scaffolding, uncovered drains, and demolition zones
While you need to prove negligence in a personal injury case, you do not have to handle it alone. Lawyers work to investigate your case’s facts and can be realistic about the prospective turnout of your case.
Damages and Statute of Limitations
You can seek compensation for several quantifiable damages incurred from your slip and fall accident. In rare cases, you can seek punitive damages if the slip and fall circumstances were orchestrated in malevolence or bad will.
In any case, it is better to act as soon as possible, since the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is only up to two years from the date of your slip and fall accident, according to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003.
Houston Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer Near Me (855) 933-4005
Work with a Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer in Houston
Working with a lawyer is a good way to stay informed about every aspect of the case while making the final call on the efforts you pursue to resolve it. However, a lawyer can help you throughout every step of the litigation process, from filing your claims and necessary documents, to fighting for your rights in court.
Fortunately, many civil cases like personal injury claims do not make it to trial, due to the resources required to fight legal battles in court. It is more common for personal injury cases to settle before needing to go to trial.
If you are interested in seeking legal counsel from a Houston slip and fall injury lawyer, call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, at (855) 933-4005 so we can start working for you.
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