A slip and fall lawyer can assist a victim of a personal injury accident in seeking financial awards for their losses. Some people believe they should only hire an attorney if their case goes to trial. The truth is you can seek a lawyer from the very beginning of the process, which usually begins with an insurance claim.
If your injuries resulted from the negligence of another party, such as a landlord, building owner, or building manager, you might qualify to seek financial awards for your losses. A slip and fall accident lawyer can handle your claim, and if they cannot secure fair compensation through negotiations, they can pursue it through a trial.
Ways a Slip and Fall Lawyer Can Help You with Your Case
There are several things a slip and fall lawyer can do to help you with an insurance claim.
Establish Liability in a Slip and Fall Case
A lawyer can investigate your case to determine and demonstrate liability on the part of the property owner. They can assess the cause of your fall and determine if the owner or manager of the property contributed to the circumstances or if it was an accident that was unavoidable.
For example, a landlord can investigate the property to see if a similar incident ever occurred in the past, which may help you prove a landlord possessed knowledge of the safety hazard. If a landlord or property manager knew of a hazard and did not take reasonable action to address it within a reasonable amount of time, they may be liable for your losses.
Prevent you From Accepting an Unfair Settlement
Often, insurance companies offer an initial settlement quickly after the victim makes a claim. A lawyer can help a victim ensure that this settlement offer fairly compensates them for their losses. They can help make sure a settlement accounts for their losses in the future.
If the accident leaves you permanently disabled or unable to work at the same capacity, a lawyer can negotiate for an amount that would cover the cost of treatment and diminished earning capacity.
Represent You if Your Case Goes to Trial
If negotiations with the insurance company fail, your slip and fall lawyer can also help you file a personal injury lawsuit. They can help you comply with any applicable deadlines, such as your state’s statutes of limitations, and take care of the paperwork. A lawyer can represent your best interests to a jury and a judge.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere, and they can result in serious injuries. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 800,000 hospitalizations occur each year due to falls. These incidents typically consist of hip fractures and head injuries, two conditions that can result in temporary or permanent disability for the victim.
Causes
Some accidents are unavoidable, while others occur due to circumstances that could have been prevented with reasonable precautions. When a property remains unsafe, visitors, guests, and invitees may suffer a slip and fall incident as a direct result. In these cases, the owner of the property becomes responsible for covering the costs of their injuries.
Some of the scenarios in which a slip and fall could occur through negligence include:
- Failure to maintain the property
- Failure to replace a broken handrail on a stairway
- Failure to provide handrails in needed areas
- Failure to properly secure carpets or rugs so that no tears or wrinkles trip a guest
- Failure to remove obstructions in the path of the guests
- Failure to prevent a leak that leaves a puddle on the floor
- Failure to address a reported concern of a safety hazard on the property
Even though these scenarios may not seem dangerous in and of themselves, they can lead to dire consequences if left unaddressed. Replacing the carpet may seem like a cosmetic concern, but when you consider the snag near the entrance could cause a visitor to trip, you begin to see why landlords have to prioritize anything that could create a safety concern.
Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC for Help with Your Case
If you suffered a slip and fall accident, you might have the option of legal recourse through an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. A slip and fall lawyer can handle your case and represent you in a trial if necessary.
Ben Crump Law, PLLC can give you a free consultation and handle your case on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no fees upfront. Give us a call today at 800-959-1444 to determine your legal options after a slip and fall accident.
