If you’ve been injured due to falling on someone else’s property as the result of hazardous conditions, you may want to file a slip-and-fall claim with their insurance company. Slip-and-fall accidents are relatively common,and the results can range from minor injuries to severe, life-altering injuries. What do you need to know if you’ve been injured in a slip-and-fall accident in Indiana or Illinois? Learn more about personal injury law and give us a call at (219) 300-5204 today!
What Is a Slip-and-Fall Accident?
Image via Flickr by Menage a Moi
Slipping, tripping, and falling are common causes of injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost 25,000 people die from these types of accidents each year, and more people go to the emergency room for slip-and-fall accidents than car accidents. Slip-and-fall accidents are the leading cause of death at work, the No. 3 reason for accidental death overall, and a frequent cause of death for people over 65. Slip-and-fall accidents are often preventable, as they’re due to a hazardous condition caused by the premises’ owner.
Indiana and Illinois law requires property owners to keep their premises safe. If an owner or person in charge of maintaining the property fails to fix or remove a hazardous condition, they can be held liable for any damages caused by a slip-and-fall accident.
What Are Common Conditions That Cause a Slip-and-Fall Accident?
A slip-and-fall accident can happen anywhere, but some conditions are more likely to cause one. These include:
- Uneven sidewalks.
- Slippery sidewalks due to water.
- Slippery sidewalks due to ice or snow.
- Uneven or torn carpet.
- Debris or trash on a sidewalk or floor.
- Missing or broken steps on a staircase.
- Missing or damaged handrails on a staircase.
- Poor lighting.
- Slippery floors.
Property owners are expected to warn you of temporary hazardous conditions, such as putting up a wet floor sign while mopping. They are also expected to fix or repair dangerous conditions to prevent an accident from happening.
What Are Common Injuries in a Slip-and-Fall Accident?
Slip-and-fall accidents can range in severity, depending on the hazardous conditions, age, and overall health of the victim. Possible injuries include, but are not limited to:
- Sprains.
- Broken bones.
- Damaged knee.
- Dislocated shoulder.
- Muscle strains.
- Spinal injury.
- Nerve damage.
- Cuts.
- Bruises.
- Concussion.
- Traumatic brain injury.
If you or someone you love has suffered any of these injuries due to a slip-and-fall accident, reach out to the knowledgeable team at Alvarez Law.
When Do I Need a Slip and Fall Lawyer?
Technically, you don’t need a slip and fall lawyer to file a personal injury lawsuit. You can file it on your own, negotiate a settlement, and represent yourself in court if you want. However, it’s highly recommended that you consider hiring a slip and fall attorney to help reduce the stress of a lawsuit, protect your rights, and negotiate a fair settlement for you. Slip-and-fall claims can be complex because proving fault isn’t always easy; therefore, having a slip and fall lawyer on your side can be beneficial.
The American Bar Association states that three out of five people represent themselves in slip-and-fall cases, on average. Hiring a slip and fall attorney provides you with the following:
- Legal advice. A slip and fall lawyer has experience with cases like yours, so they can negotiate a reasonable settlement.
- Establish negligence. Your slip and fall lawyer will analyze your accident, gather evidence, and work to prove that the owner of the premises is at fault and liable for your injuries.
- Calculate damages. A slip and fall attorney can help you calculate current and future damages, providing you with the settlement you deserve.
- Negotiate a settlement. The owner’s insurance company is going to have representation to keep the payout to a minimum. Your slip and fall lawyer will be able to negotiate a settlement for you, ensuring that the damages you receive are fair.
- Represent you in court. If you cannot negotiate a settlement with the insurance company, a slip and fall lawyer will represent you in court in front of a judge and jury. They can also take care of the technicalities around filing the lawsuit and the impending paperwork.
While having a slip and fall attorney is not required, having the benefit of professional legal counsel and their knowledge and experience can be very helpful to your case.
What Information Will a Slip and Fall Attorney Need?
After a slip-and-fall accident, a lawyer will need the following information to best serve your case:
- What your injuries are.
- How much work you’ve missed.
- What your prognosis is.
- Any future medical needs.
- What caused the accident.
- How that condition came to be.
- How long the condition existed.
- If the property owner knew about the condition.
- If any laws, regulations, codes, or common safety practices were violated.
- Any similar accidents on the premises.
Your slip and fall attorney will work hard to gather the appropriate information and documentation to support your case.
Who Will Pay My Medical Bills?
For a majority of slip and fall cases, the injured party is responsible for paying the initial medical expenses. Your health insurance may cover most of the medical bills. However, you can pursue a slip-and-fall claim with the property owner’s insurance company. Insurance policies with medical payment coverage will cover medical bills caused by an accident on the owner’s premises. If you receive compensation via a personal injury claim, you may have to pay back the insurance companies that paid out initially.
Contact Alvarez Law Today
Alvarez Law has slip and fall lawyers ready to take your case. We have the expertise to get you the settlement you deserve. With over 60 years of combined experience, Alvarez Law has successfully won hundreds of slip-and-fall accident claims. Call us today for a free consultation. Personal injury cases are accepted on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay unless we win your case. You can reach us 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (219) 300-5204 or via our secure online messaging system.
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