What Are Slip-And-Fall Accidents?

Life involves a series of risks. Some you can see coming; others happen in a split second, leaving you stunned and confused about what happened and why. That’s the category that describes slip-and-fall accidents. While they may sound inconsequential, these accidents can lead to significant injuries.

Don’t underestimate the toll on your body following a slip and fall. Yes, there are often some immediately obvious injuries, such as broken bones, but other injuries may not become severe until later, especially if they involve a blow to the head.

What are the most common injuries from a slip and fall, and how can they stay with you for the long term? If this happens to you, when should you consult a lawyer, and what can they do for you? The personal injury attorneys at De Castroverde Law have put together this guide to slip-and-fall accidents.

Las Vegas Slip and Fall Lawyers

Slip and fall is a way of describing a type of accident that causes serious bodily injuries. These accidents occur when someone slips on a wet floor, icy sidewalk, or another surface. They can also result from tripping on damaged stairs, uneven ground, or pavement. Sometimes the property owner can be held responsible for the dangerous condition that led to the slip, trip, or fall and must pay damages. Slip-and-fall accidents fit into the category of lawsuits known as premises liability cases.

It’s difficult to determine whether an owner has taken the reasonable steps required in the upkeep of their home or property to prevent injuries from occurring. But that’s where the personal injury attorneys of De Castroverde Law Group can help. Our attorneys will work with you to establish the facts and evidence, evaluate your case against the law, and pursue compensation for your injuries.

What Happens to Your Body in a Slip and Fall?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes falls as “serious and costly” and says they pose a significant risk of death for older people. Death rates from falls for those 65 and older increased by 30% between 2007 and 2016. The CDC says one out of every four seniors falls each year and notes the rate may even be higher because not every fall gets reported. As many as 800,000 people are hospitalized annually for injuries from falls.

Still, it’s also important to note that the CDC indicates many falls do not cause injuries. Injuries tend to happen because falls can occur instantly, when you’re least prepared and most vulnerable, twisting body parts in awkward directions. Because you’re not in control as you fall, you are also susceptible to hitting your head.

One of the dangerous consequences is that falling can have psychological effects. A person begins to fear the prospect of falling and subsequently curtails their activities. For seniors, this can further weaken the body, and the chance of additional falls grows.

If you’re injured in a slip and fall, you may be able to recover compensation for the cost of your medical treatment, pain, and suffering. Obtaining damages depends on whether you believe the injury resulted from the property owner’s negligence.

Common Injuries From Slip-And-Fall Accidents

Every case is a little bit different, but a slip-and-fall accident tends to become serious when someone suffers either a head injury or a fracture. Here are some of the most common potential injuries:

  • Broken wrists, arms, ankles, or hips. Hip fractures are especially dangerous for the elderly.
  • Neck or spinal cord injuries.
  • Cuts or lacerations.
  • Torn ligaments, muscle strains, and muscle pulls.
  • Concussions or other traumatic brain injuries, including edema, hematoma, skull fracture, or hemorrhage. 

The worst effects of your slip and fall often do not appear for some time after the incident. This is especially true for head injuries. The impact of other types of muscular or ligament damage can also take some time to fully understand. No matter your age, you should always see your doctor for a checkup, even if you feel fine.

Getting proper documentation of your injuries is also essential if you pursue an insurance claim or a slip-and-fall lawsuit. You will need to establish a diagnosis soon after the accident.

What Is Premises Liability?

Premises liability is a legal concept that states property owners can be held responsible for defects or unsafe conditions. It requires owners to take reasonable steps to keep their properties maintained. The cases often require proof that an owner exhibited negligence or recklessness by allowing unsafe conditions to develop and remain.

Getting injured on someone else’s property alone is not enough to hold an owner liable for your injuries. The plaintiff’s burden in a premises liability case is to prove that the owner knew or should have known that the condition existed and failed to take steps to remedy the situation despite that knowledge.

In addition to slip-and-fall lawsuits, premises liability cases can also involve circumstances such as:

  • Not enough security, or the wrong kind of security, to prevent assaults.
  • Elevator and escalator accidents.
  • Dog bites.
  • Injuries in a swimming pool.
  • Fires.
  • Water leaks.
  • Release of chemicals into the air.

Property owners must provide proper maintenance. This applies not just for those who use a property regularly but also to visitors and even trespassers in certain circumstances.

In a property liability case, you can seek compensation for the cost of your medical care to treat the immediate injury and for ongoing therapy that might be required. You may also seek compensation for lost wages — including time missed from work for follow-up doctor visits — and pain and suffering. In an instance where someone dies from their injuries, survivors may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Slip-And-Fall Lawyers at De Castroverde Law

Let De Castroverde Law Group help you sort out your slip-and-fall case. Our qualified team of personal injury lawyers has experience with all types of slip-and-fall and premises liability cases. We will fight hard to get you the compensation you deserve. If you are injured in a slip-and-fall situation or another type of accident, call us or contact us online today for an initial consultation.

Photo Credit: Stock photo image of a yellow ‘caution wet floor’ sign by Rainbow International is licensed with CC by 2.0