Slip and fall injuries are common. It doesn’t take much for a surface to become unsafe and for us to lose our footing. Whether it’s a trip hazard, slippery surface, or anything else, the results can be damaging.
We can quickly end up with physical injuries, mental trauma, and a big dent in our pride. We shouldn’t have to suffer in silence and pretend it never happened if someone else is clearly to blame. The best personal injury lawyers can ensure that victims get the compensation they deserve while proving negligence on the part of property owners.
Examples Of Slip And Fall Cases
Slip and fall cases are exactly what they sound like. It’s a cause-and-effect situation where a fault or hazard causes you to slip, fall, and injure yourself in some manner. These incidents vary greatly in both the circumstances of the accident and the injuries sustained. The severity of the case doesn’t matter when claiming compensation.
You can claim for anything from mild sprains to life-altering injuries. What matters is your ability to prove a direct link between issues with the property and the physical injuries or mental anguish experienced.
There are plenty of situations that classify as legitimate slip and fall accidents where you may be able to make a claim. Many arise from issues with the maintenance of the building. Loose and uneven surfaces, whether inside or outside, are big tripping hazards.
Leaks from roofs and bad plumbing make the surfaces slippery. Commercial properties also have to consider the amount of clutter and accessibility of all their aisles. Then there’s the lighting and safety rails for entryways and stairwells.
Slip And Fall Cases And Property Owner Negligence
Once you can prove that your injuries were the result of the issues on someone else’s property in question, you need to be able to assign blame. You can’t start trying to sue a major retailer for an accident in their store or the city if your injuries were purely your fault.
It could be that you weren’t paying enough attention or acting carelessly enough to put yourself at greater risk. For example, with city property, there are different circumstances when dealing with icy sidewalks in winter.
Someone falling after running on a gritted surface isn’t in the same position as someone who feels while cautiously trying to navigate an un-gritted one. In the first situation, the city did what it could to help the public, and the individual was still careless. In the second, the city didn’t do its duty and is clearly negligent.
This issue of negligence is crucial when making a claim against the owner of a commercial building or private property. It’s all about determining what they didn’t do to keep their staff, customers, and other visitors safe at all times.
Generally, we can break this down into two issues. In both cases, property owners are aware of dangers and hazards but don’t handle them appropriately. Companies that were genuinely unaware of a hazard would have to prove that was the case.
The first situation is when a company knows there is a problem and does nothing to fix it. This is surprisingly common when companies believe a problem isn’t a big issue and isn’t going to cause injuries. They might try and say that they would have fixed it, but they didn’t have the money or resources to do so.
Or, they might insist they did try and do something, but the hazards remained. For example, maybe they chose not to fix a leaky roof because winter was nearly over and it was too expensive. They left it, and water still got in and caused a slippery floor. The court will see that as negligent and rule against them.
The second situation is when the company knows about the hazard and intends to do something about it, but doesn’t try and protect people in the meantime. Going back to that situation with the leaking roof and wet floor.
It’s ok to have this problem and keep the store open if the company cordons off the hazardous area and puts up tape and wet floor signs. Then, the liability switches to the victim if they purposefully ignore the warning signs.
Building A Case To Prove Property Owner Negligence
These cases can only work in your favor if you have a strong legal team on your side building a compelling file of evidence. The best personal injury lawyers in Des Moines can do just that. They’ll help you come up with as much damning evidence against the defendant to get you the best chance of claiming compensation.
Finding proof of negligence isn’t always easy, especially if a company tries to cover its tracks, but there are options. Where possible, get photographic evidence directly after an incident or have your lawyers ask for CCTV footage. You can also see if the company has an accident book that logs exactly what happened.
In addition to this, you need to compile as much evidence as possible about the impact of the injury to prove economic damages, as well as pain and suffering. Medical reports, photos of injuries, proof of lost earnings, and even pain journals can all help.
Find A Personal Injury Lawyer Today
The only way to get the compensation you’re owed in a slip-and-fall case is to hire a professional personal injury lawyer. These specialists will work tirelessly to create a strong case with enough evidence that works in your favor.
They’ll help you prove that not only was the injury sustained severe enough to deserve financial compensation but that the property owners are liable. Together, you can show the court that it was the company’s negligence in poor maintenance and/or safety standards that caused your suffering.
A win could help you cover the costs of your medical bills, give you closure, and ensure those liable aren’t so irresponsible in the future. Get in touch with a local firm today and explain your case.