According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), when you slip and fall at a store or any private business, you could suffer severe injuries, including bone fractures and head injuries. The resulting medical costs can become astronomical—Johns Hopkins Medicine found the average cost for hospitalization was $34,294.
If you wonder what happens when you slip and fall at a store, it might surprise you to learn that you could recover compensation.
Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
You might have a slip and fall case if you recently suffered an accident in or outside a store due to a hazardous condition such as:
- Frayed or bulging carpeting
- Wet floors
- Recently waxed floors
- Obstacles and tripping hazards
- Broken or missing steps
- Food or other debris on floors
- Inadequate lighting
- Ice or snow on a sidewalk
If you suffered severe injuries in such a fall, your best next steps include:
- Seeing your doctor as soon as possible.
- Making a store employee or owner aware of your accident.
- Fill out an accident report.
- Ask any eyewitnesses for contact details.
- Take pictures of the area where your accident happened, including the hazardous condition that caused your fall.
All these actions can help you as you consider whether to hold the property owner accountable in a personal injury lawsuit.
You might also want to contact a slip and fall lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. An attorney can protect your legal rights and advise you on your next best steps. After all, if you suffered any injuries, you could receive compensation.
Slip and Fall Settlements
Occasionally, what happens when you slip and fall at a store is that the store’s insurance company might contact you with a settlement offer. What you do then has significance for the outcome of your potential slip and fall case. Remember that the insurance company will work to its advantage, and it might offer you a small settlement. You might find it tempting to accept—you want to get the claim done quickly, without having to fight in court.
While it might be in your best interests to accept an out-of-court settlement, you might want to speak to a slip and fall accident lawyer before accepting any offers, no matter how inviting. A lawyer can assess your damages and the harm that you suffered. They can also calculate any future expected expenses—for example, medical bills or lost income—that you may incur because of the accident.
An insurance company may push you into accepting an unfair settlement. They may also try to get you to provide a verbal, written, or recorded statement that they could later use against you. A slip and fall lawyer can help you avoid this trap; rather than speaking with insurance adjusters, you can direct them to an attorney who negotiates on your behalf.
Once you accept a settlement, you will not be able to sue, so a lawyer will make sure that the settlement terms account for all your damages before you agree to it. A full settlement should cover:
- Medical bills, both present and future
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Pain and suffering
Depending on your accident and injuries, you could also receive additional economic and noneconomic damages.
Proving Fault
Proving negligence in a slip and fall case can be challenging. A property owner will most likely fight tooth and nail to discredit your claim and argue that you have responsibility for your accident and injuries.
It can also feel intimidating to stand up to a well-known business or company. However, a slip and fall lawyer can help you prove:
- The existence of a dangerous condition that caused your accident.
- The property owner failed to fix or resolve a hazardous condition.
In some cases, a property owner might have caused the dangerous condition that resulted in your accident and injuries. For example, they might have installed unsuitable flooring or inadequate lighting in certain areas. A personal injury lawyer can thoroughly investigate your accident and build your case accordingly.
Call Us Now for Help
If you want to discover whether you have a case against a property owner or other negligent party, you can contact a slip and fall accident lawyer with Ben Crump Law, PLLC. We work on contingency and only get paid if you receive a settlement or court award, so you need not worry about any hidden costs when you work with us.
We will look out for your best interests and fight for you not to let a property owner get away with the negligent actions that caused your injuries. If they caused your accident, injuries, and financial damages, you deserve compensation.
Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC, now at 800-959-1444 and let one of our team members determine whether you have a case.
