Know Your Rights When a Slip and Fall Accident Occurs
Slip and fall accidents can happen to anyone at any time. While they may sound minor, they often lead to some serious injuries, particularly for the elderly. Well over 600, 000 people are hospitalized every year because of these types of accidents.
Many slip and fall injuries often lead to debilitating problems such as chronic pain, back injuries and much more. Falls at work account for 15 percent of the workers compensation claims filed every year, but many also occur at home, in stores and shops and at nursing homes.
In many cases these incidents could have been avoided. Two million people every year are injured because of unsafe flooring. This can be throw rugs which slip or buckle, unstable tiles or something else. Failure to provide notice of wet floors and floors which are too heavily waxed are common concerns.
Outside, poorly maintained pavement or uneven sidewalks and parking lots are a big problem. Stores and businesses who fail to take care of stock or do not make changes in elevation for flooring or pavement leave everyone vulnerable.
The medical bills and missed work can leave many victims in a financially desperate situation. In some instances there can even be a loss of life. For these people and their families, there is help available. The law is on the side of the victim, particularly when it can be shown it was severe neglect which led to the accident.
The average slip and fall cases settlement amounts will vary. There are many factors which will determine how this amount is figured. The severity of the injury and its lasting effects and the amount of negligence on the property owner are the two main considerations. In most cases this amount will be enough to cover all medical bills, including any future surgeries or rehabilitation as well as lost income. There will often be some added for pain and suffering as well.
In order to get the justice you deserve, contact an attorney experienced in handling these cases to learn more. Do not delay as most states give people a very limited amount of time to file before the statute of limitations runs out.
