According to a recent report by the National Floor Safety Institute, slip and fall accidents in the U.S. account for over 1 million hospital emergency room visits every year. A slip and fall accident can result in serious injuries, especially for older adults. These are dangerous accidents that can be extremely painful and costly.
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, you may want to consider working with a qualified New Orleans slip and fall lawyer to help you recover compensation. Read on to learn more information about slip and fall accidents.
What’s Slip and Fall Accident?
As its name tells, a slip and fall accident is an occasion during which somebody slips and falls and, as a result, suffers some injury. You may have a case if you’ve experienced slip and fall accidents when lawfully on someone’s property.
The two main categories of people legally recognized as lawfully on someone’s property are:
A licensee: This is a person on another’s property as a social guest. If you trespass someone’s property, the property owner has no legal liability for any slip and fall injuries you might suffer.
An invitee: When you’re in a property for a specific purpose for which the building is held open to the public, the law recognizes you as an invitee.
Dangerous Conditions that Contribute to Slip and Fall Accidents
Be aware of the following dangerous conditions that contribute to slip and fall accidents:
1. Wet Floors
This is probably the leading cause of slip and fall accidents. Walkways or floors wet from rain, spills, or other slick substances present a dangerous condition. Other conditions include:
- Uneven sidewalks, surfaces, or flooring without warning signs.
- Potholes in office buildings’ parking lots.
- Recently polished floors.
- Bulging or broken carpeting.
- Recently polished floors.
A property owner is responsible for applying reasonable care to eliminate any hazardous condition that may contribute to a slip and fall accident.
2. Poor Lighting
Poor lighting on the premises can contribute to slip and fall accidents because people can’t see everything in front of them.
A property owner should ensure areas inside and outside their properties are well-lit to avoid slip and fall accidents.
3. Unsafe Stairs
Unsafe stairs can easily cause a slip and fall accident. Hazardous conditions may include:
- Worn or warped stairs.
- Trash or debris on stairs.
- Waxed stairs without a no-skid surface.
Some common locations for slip and fall injuries are grocery stores, retail stores, and restaurants.
Common Types of Injuries from Slip and Fall Accidents
Irrespective of how you fall, suddenly hitting the ground can cause various severe traumatic injuries.
Here are five common types of slip and fall accidents:
1. Broken Bones
The impact of a slip and fall accident has the potential to cause broken bones. Some common types of broken bones from slip and fall accidents are wrist, ankle, and hip fractures. While older people are particularly likely to break bones in a fall, all victims of slip and fall accidents can suffer injuries in all parts of the body. However, your health or age during the fall doesn’t affect your legal claim for financial compensation.
2. Soft Tissue Injuries
Since soft tissue injuries aren’t openly visible, you might not even realize you suffered a mild tissue injury until a week after the fall accident. These injuries can result in chronic pain if unattended and may make you susceptible to subsequent injuries.
After a slip and fall accident, always seek immediate medical attention because soft tissue injuries usually don’t produce immediate pain.
3. Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
You can suffer TBI when you hit your head on a hard surface or the ground in a slip-and-fall accident. TBIs range from minor injuries such as bruises, bumps, and concussions to significant injuries like hematomas, skull fractures, and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Severe head injuries like TBIs can affect your brain function and cause loss of bodily control and seizures. This injury can have a devastating impact on your quality of life.
4. Spinal Cord Injuries
Common spinal cord injuries (SCI) from slip and fall accidents include pinched nerves, fractured vertebrae, slipped and herniated discs, and various other debilitating injuries. The symptoms of SCI can vary from pain and limited mobility to paralysis. Patients who suffer from paralysis will need long-term medical care.
5. Sprained Wrists or Ankles
During the fall, people often stretch their arms out to try to cushion the fall, which may injure the ligaments in their ankles or wrist. Since ligaments receive minimum blood, sprains can take a long time to heal. Even though it may seem like a minor injury, sprains and strains can impact your life in a big way. You may not even be able to button your shirt. Having an experienced New Orleans slip and fall lawyer on your legal team will help you build a strong case.
How Can You Prove a Slip and Fall Case?
You may suffer slip and fall injuries due to negligence by the property manager. To prove the management’s negligence, here are the elements to consider:
- The property owner had a responsibility to you.
- The property owner neglected their duty.
- The property owner’s negligence was the cause of your harm.
- You suffered actual injuries.
You need to prove the above elements of negligence before you get compensated.
Possible Damages That You May Recover for Your Slip and Fall Injuries
If you can prove the property owner breached their duty, you can recover damages resulting from the slip and fall accident. These damages may include:
- Medical bills.
- Lost wages.
- Pain and suffering.
- Rehabilitation costs, including counseling or physical therapy.
Do You Need a New Orleans Slip and Fall Lawyer After an Accident?
You can file an injury claim on your own, you do not need a lawyer. However, it can be helpful to have a New Orleans slip and fall lawyer on your side to prove liability in complex cases. A personal injury lawyer will gather the evidence needed to prove that the property’s owner was negligent. Another reason it might be a good idea to consult an attorney is that they know what types of things you can get compensation for, things that you may not think of on your own.
A New Orleans slip and fall lawyer also knows how to deal with insurance companies, other lawyers on the case, and courts. You don’t have to struggle to understand the claims process, and you won’t get taken advantage of by insurance adjusters.
Speak with an Experienced New Orleans Slip and Fall Lawyer Today
If you experienced a slip and fall accident in New Orleans or any surrounding areas, speak to our seasoned New Orleans slip and fall Lawyer to better understand your case.
Please don’t wait any longer; call today to schedule a free consultation for advice on the legal action you can take.