Injured? Our Belleville Slip & Fall Accident Lawyers Fight for Your Rights After an Accident
Slip and fall accidents can cause serious injuries. They can happen anywhere and cause both physical and mental injuries. Government buildings, grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, and shopping malls are familiar places where slip-and-fall accidents occur. In addition to that, piling medical bills can strain your finances and affect your ability to work. A slip-and-fall lawyer is the best person to work with in such a case.
But you can always seek compensation if you or your loved one suffers slip or fall injuries. However, slip and fall cases can be complex. That’s why you need someone with adequate experience to file for compensation.
Need legal assistance?
Call us at 618-424-4450 24/7 to arrange to speak with a personal injury lawyer about your case, or contact us through the website today.
Experience Matters: Find a Belleville Slip & Fall Accident Lawyer You Can Trust
If you’ve been injured as a result of a premises owner’s inability to properly maintain their business or place of work, a slip-and-fall accident lawyer can be crucial in proving that the injuries resulted from someone’s negligence. A slip-and-fall attorney has knowledge and experience handling property owners and their insurance companies when such incidents happen. While proving a slip-and-fall case can be complicated, a slip-and-fall attorney can identify the cause.
How Much Does a Slip and Fall Lawyer Cost?
We work on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee is when we don’t get paid unless you get paid. We cover all the case expenses and only collect to cover those costs when we win a settlement for you. A contingency fee ensures we work hard for your case, and you don’t have even more out-of-pocket expenses. We offer contingency fees for other areas of practice, such as:
What to Do When You Slip and Fall
Sometimes it’s easy to think it was your mistake after you slip and fall. But this is only sometimes the case. Slipping and falling can leave you shaken and confused. The first thing you need to do is to seek immediate medical attention if you are not severely hurt. The following steps may be crucial in proving liability in a slip and fall accident:
Seek medical attention
You should first seek treatment after getting involved in this type of accident. Other than treating the injuries, going to a doctor can also serve as proof during the claim process.
Take photos
It is essential to take pictures of the exact location of the accident and the injuries.
Talk to Witnesses
Obtain contact information of anyone present at the scene when the accident occurred.
Report the Incident to the Property Owner or Manage
Report the accident to the property owner or manager. Ensure they make a written report and get a copy.
Common Types of Slip and Fall Accidents
There are many ways people sli[ and fall. Here are a few of the most common.
Wet or slippery floors
This may be due to a spill that wasn’t cleaned, rain, snow, a leaky pipe, or naturally slippery surfaces like glass or polished stone floors.
Unstable or uneven surfaces
Businesses and property owners must keep buildings and walkways safe for visitors. Broken tiles, rough concrete, or brick are tripping hazards that can cause serious accidents.
Dangerous staircases and ramps
If they are not well maintained, they can become a tripping hazard.
Cluttered, disorderly, and poorly lit hallways
If a business owner, property owner, or manager fails to maintain a clean and orderly appearance, clutter can quickly become a hazard and cause someone to slip and fall.
Investigating a Slip and Fall Accident
When you contact a premises liability lawyer, they will want to hear what exactly happened. They may choose to visit the accident scene to carry out their investigation. A slip and fall attorney may also search for video surveillance in the area to reconstruct the accident. This will help them determine if the property owner or manager is guilty of negligence.
The property owner can be a landlord, a city, a company, or a different entity. Your injury lawyer can talk to the property owner to collect more information regarding the accident. The objective of the slip and fall lawyer will be to determine negligence through investigation of many other factors. Some of the questions a premises liability lawyer will ask include the following:
- Where did the accident happen?
- What caused you to slip, fall, or trip?
- Was there anyone around to help?
- Were you injured?
- What type of injuries did you suffer?
- Did you seek medical attention?
- How did you leave the scene of the accident?
- Were there any witnesses during the accident?
- Was it your first time in the building, or have you been there before?
Cost of a Slip and Fall Accident
A slip-and-fall accident can be very costly for a victim. Some of the costs and injuries may include:
- Broken bones
- Doctor and hospital bills
- Missed work
- Loos of income
- Pain and suffering
- Rehabilitation and therapy
How to Recover Compensation for a Slip and Fall Accident
Suppose your neighbor or employer is responsible for the fall injury. In that case, you are entitled to compensation for the losses suffered. There are several ways of seeking compensation. The first one is by seeking compensation claiming from the property owner. Most homeowners or property owners have insurance that covers accident liabilities. But it would be essential to talk to the property owner to determine if they have insurance.
The other option is to file for compensation with the help of a premises liability lawyer. Unfortunately, most slip-and-fall cases never end up in court. You may file a personal injury case, but it won’t go to trial. The only way to win such a case is to prove that the property owner failed to do their part to prevent the injury.
What Are the Recoverable Damages for a Slip Fall Accident?
Some of the damages you may recover after filing a personal injury lawsuit for a slip and fall accident include:
Medical expenses
Slip and fall claims generally lead to compensation for medical bills. The compensation may cover ambulance rides, hospital stays, or chiropractic care expenses.
Property damage costs
If your personal property were damaged due to the accident, the business owner would be forced to repair or replace it.
Pain and suffering
You may also file for compensation for any physical and emotional pain resulting from the fall.
Lost income Mental or emotional distress
Sometimes, the injuries caused by the slip and fall accident can make it impossible for you to return to work. In such a case, you will be entitled to compensation for any wages lost because of the injuries.
How our Belleville Slip & Fall Accident Lawyers Establish Negligence
Through research into the cause of the accident, a slip and fall attorney will prove negligence on the part of the property or business owner. But proving negligence is a challenging task. Your premises liability lawyer will have to prove four essential elements that will demonstrate negligence on the part of the property manager or owner.
1. Your injury lawyer must show that the property manager, landlord, or business owner was mandated to keep the property safe or free from hazardous conditions.
2. They must demonstrate that duty was abdicated or breached.
3. They should also demonstrate that the fall and slip resulted from the breach of duty.
4. Finally, your premises liability lawyer must show that the property or business owner is responsible for compensating you for the damages caused.
How Statutes of Limitations Can Affect Your Lawsuit
All civil lawsuits have a time limit on when they can be filed. This is also known as a statute of limitation. You will only be allowed to file for compensation for your injuries within the set timelines. Every state has its statute of limitations for personal injury cases. It is essential to talk to your injury lawyer about the statute of limitations for your state.
our Belleville Slip & Fall Accident Lawyers Fight for Maximum Compensation
As mentioned earlier, one of the first things you should do in case of a slip and fall accident is to contact a slip and fall attorney. Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer will increase your chances of getting compensated.