Recognizing When A Slip and Fall Accident Was The Result Of Negligence
Slip and fall accidents are consistently among the most common causes of accidental injury in the United States, reportedly sending some 8.9 million people to emergency departments around the country each year. Fortunately for victims, when slip and fall accidents are the result of someone else’s negligence, they can often recover for their losses by filing a personal injury claim.
Whether or not negligence occurred in a particular situation is very fact dependent – for example, if debris in a walkway caused your slip and fall, the length of time the debris was there and the potential hazard caused by the debris are critical to the determination of whether a property owner or tenant was negligent. For this reason, you should always have your case reviewed by a lawyer, even if you think that the accident was your fault.
Some of the more common kinds of slip and fall hazards that are often the result of negligence include the following:
- Inadequate lighting
- Slippery floors
- Liquid spills
- Stairs without handrails
- Torn carpet
- Debris in aisles or walkways
- Exposed electrical wiring
- Cracked pavement
- Uneven stairs
- Unmarked work zones
What Kinds of Damages can I Recover in a Slip and Fall Case?
If you are hurt in a slip and fall accident, you may be wondering what your case is worth. Because each case is different, it is impossible to make a statement about the amount of compensation that a “typical” slip and fall victim can recover. Some of the damages that are often successfully claimed in slip and fall cases include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Loss of quality of life
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
As this list illustrates, the amount of compensation that you ultimately recover will depend on factors like the nature and severity of your injuries and the length of time you are out of work. When you meet with a St. Petersburg personal injury attorney, he or she will review your case and give you an idea of how much you can expect to recover.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a slip and fall accident, call an attorney with experience handling these types of cases. Waggener Law has the experience you need dealing with an accident like this. Call 727-685-8000 to talk to an attorney.