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Accidents happen. However, the consequences of some accidents are more severe and long-lasting than others. Take slip and fall incidents, for instance. Slip and fall accidents are incredibly common in the United States, with over one million Americans suffering from a slip and fall injury each year. Although a slip and fall incident may be no big deal to one person, it could lead to dire consequences for another; there are roughly 17,000 deaths in the U.S. annually due to these injuries.
Slip and fall accidents are often the result of some type of negligence such as improper property maintenance leading to hazardous conditions. If this is the case, the victim could be entitled to compensation to cover any medical costs they may incur as well as to cover damages for the disruption to their lives. Read on to learn some key facts about slip and fall cases in the U.S. and where to seek aid if you are a victim.
The facts
Slip and fall injuries account for roughly 15 percent of work-related injuries, making up 12 to 15 percent of Worker’s Compensation expenses. Of slip and fall victims, 20 to 30 percent will experience moderate to severe injuries including bruises, fractures, and head injuries. Slip and fall accidents can also lead to a plethora of other physical issues, including incapacitation, spinal cord injuries, or even death.
Questions surrounding liability in slip and fall lawsuits
In order to prove another party’s negligence and gain compensation for your injury, two main questions need to be answered:
1) Who is the potentially liable party?
2) Was that party actually negligent and did that negligence lead to the victim’s injury?
In order to effectively answer the second question, many factors must be considered: was there a reasonable justification for the creation of the hazard that led to the injury? Was poor lighting a contributing factor to the hazardous environment? Did the potentially liable party have a policy of routinely checking for potential hazards and addressing them?
Where to seek assistance
While there are plenty of resources you can consult to improve your own legal knowledge of how slip and fall cases are handled, your best bet to ensure justice is to hire a slip and fall lawyer. These attorneys specialize in personal injury cases, using their expertise to gather the facts related to your case and to pursue full and fair compensation for victims.
Even if cost is a concern, you can still seek the assistance of a slip and fall law firm; many firms offer free, no-obligation consultations to discuss the details of your case and only charge a portion of the settlement.
Slip and fall claims represent a very specific and rather common form of dispute resolution in litigation. Despite the fact that such incidents are relatively commonplace, that doesn’t mean they are something to take lightly. If you or a loved one are a victim of a slip and fall accident, don’t hesitate to consult a slip and fall lawyer to seek the justice you deserve.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
