SLIP AND FALL ACCIDENTS

Falls are one of the leading causes of unintentional injuries in the U.S., accounting for nearly nine million visits to emergency rooms in 2011. Adults 55 and older are more likely to become victims of falls, and tragically, any resulting injuries can diminish the ability of one to lead an active and independent life. Falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional death in homes and communities, resulting in more than 25,000 fatalities in 2009. Among seniors, the number of deaths due to falls is four times higher than those among all other age groups.

RECOVERABLE DAMAGES:

In cases involving floor accidents, an injured party’s damages may typically include hospital and medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost earnings, and impaired earning capacity.

● Medical Expenses

Moderate and serious injuries sustained in a floor accident can trigger astronomical bills. For example, hospitalization at a trauma center for a head injury can cost as much $100,000. An attorney dedicated to personal injury claims will help you recover the costs for any hospital stay, surgery, doctors’ visits, diagnostic tests, physical and rehabilitative therapy, and chiropractic care. You may further be entitled to the costs of future medical care, if your injuries require ongoing treatment.

● Pain and Suffering

A floor accident may inflict a wide range of injuries, whether they are temporary, longer-term, or permanently disabling. The law allows for compensation for the pain and suffering associated with floor accident injuries, yet it does not provide a fixed formula to calculate that type of compensation. To recover the maximum amount that your injuries warrant, one will need the help of a dedicated personal injury attorney who is equipped with the knowledge, resources and experience to best evaluate your claim.

● Loss of Wages

Time lost at work due to injuries inflicted by a floor accident can be significant and have serious ramifications on your finances and family responsibilities. If your floor accident injuries prevent you from working, then all your lost wages may be included in any claim for recovery against the negligent party and the liable carrier. Even if you used sick leave or vacation time during the recovery period, reimbursement may be available in your recovery. What if your injuries leave you permanently disabled and unable to work ever again? In conjunction with this firm’s experts, a personal injury lawyer can calculate your future losses and recover for your diminution in lifetime earning capacity.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO AFTER A FLOOR ACCIDENT INCIDENT?

Here are some very important steps you can take in the immediate aftermath of a floor accident incident:

(1) Seek prompt medical attention. If the injuries require emergency care, call an ambulance for transport to a hospital. If the injuries are not serious, visit an urgent care medical center or arrange to be seen by your regular physician. Some of the injuries in connection with a floor accident may be latent and may not manifest until days or weeks later, and hence it is essential to be examined by a medical care provider as soon as possible.

(2) Attempt to gather information at the scene of the fall. Try to take photos of the damage to the vehicles and if there are witnesses to the fall, obtain their names and contact information. Witnesses to such accidents can be crucial in determining who was caused the fall.

(3) Report the Slip and Fall Accident. If you suffer a slip and fall injury in any commercial establishment, such as a supermarket, or a mall, you should report the slip and fall accident to management right there and then. It is very important to document your slip and fall accident in this way. Incident reports contain useful information about the accident, including the date and time of the slip and fall, the names of witnesses, and the circumstances of the injury. Such reports can help establish how the floor accident actually occurred, and hence preventing a property owner from later claiming that the incident never took place.

(4)  Do not give statements to the insurance companies’ representatives about the incident, without first contacting a personal injury attorney.

(5) The burden of proof is onerous in floor accident cases, and hence it is essential to immediately contact a dedicated personal injury attorney after such an incident. It is crucial to immediately seek counsel so that any evidence available, including surveillance video, is immediately and appropriately gathered before it is lost or destroyed, and that witnesses are interviewed while their recollections are still fresh and useful.