Did you know that slips and falls are the leading cause of workers’ compensation claims and the leading cause of occupational injury for people aged 55 and older?
Or that falls are the number one cause of accidental injury in the United States, resulting in 21% of all emergency room visits?
Or that total injuries due to falls is estimated at $13-14 million per year in this country?
Slips and falls are also one of the most common cases brought to litigation. These cases arise when people suffer an injury at a location where a hazard causes them to slip, lose their balance, and fall to the ground and subsequently pursue legal action to receive compensation for their injuries. Such a case arises when an attorney feels confident that the corporation or business where the incident took place is responsible for notifying the public of such hazards and did not make any warnings or signs visible to passersby. That simple negligence can end up costing the business.
In a slip and fall case, it must be proven that a plaintiff did not ignore common sense. For example, if a sidewalk in front of a commercial building is covered in a sheet of ice that is clearly visible, the owner of the building might not necessarily be found guilty of negligence. The maintenance of the sidewalk is the responsibility of the commercial entity within the building, but the plaintiff is expected to use common sense. In other words, a person who walks, jogs, or runs over the ice is expected to know the dangers of doing so. If they suffer an injury because of a slip, the judge and jury might determine that the accident is not based on the negligence of the company for failing to take care of the ice.
Slip and fall cases are some of the hardest to meet the burden of proof. Unless the plaintiff has a video clearly showing the incident without any fault on their part, he or she would have to come to court prepared with statements, medical reports, possible police reports, and all pertinent evidence to try to meet the burden of proof.
If you’re the plaintiff in a slip and fall case and want to discuss your options for settlement funding, call us. We’d be happy to answer your questions, learn more about your case and help you understand your next steps. Call us at 855-LAW-ADVANCE.
Some statistics above are according to the National Floor Safety Institute.