Running errands, going out to dinner, or walking in a parking lot are all common situations for everyday life. However, if you’re on an unsafe premises, these typical day-to-day tasks can result in accidents. Property owners are supposed to keep the premises safe for others. When they don’t, someone can suffer a slip and fall injury. If this has happened to you or a loved one, you may be eligible to seek financial compensation. A Norristown slip and fall lawyer from Shrager, Sachs, & Blanco can help you hold the negligent party accountable for their actions.
Where Can Slip and Fall Accidents Occur?
Any type of property owner can neglect to keep the property safe. Owners of restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, hospitals—they’re all places where these accidents can occur. Typically, the premises is unsafe because of one of the following reasons:
- Uneven Walkways
- Unsalted Sidewalks
- Unanchored Carpet
- Spills
- No Caution Sign
- Poor Lighting
- No Handrails
When your lawyer is investigating your case, they’ll look to see if the property owner knew about the hazard, if they were doing anything to solve it, and if they were warning others about the danger. If they knew about the hazard but weren’t fixing it in a reasonable amount of time and didn’t warn others on the property, then they can be held liable for injuries that arise because of the hazard.
How Severe Are Slip and Fall Injuries?
Slip and fall injuries can range from mild to severe. Some common injuries from these incidents include:
- Head Injuries. Concussions and traumatic brain injuries can occur if someone hits their head in the fall. This can cause internal swelling, bleeding, and have permanent consequences. Severe head injuries need immediate and extensive medical care.
- Sprains and Strains. When someone is falling, they may try to break their fall with their arm or try to quickly balance to remain upright. Landing on an arm puts the force of the fall on that area. The stress can result in sprains and strains. If someone is trying to keep their balance, they could jerk their back and injure themselves.
- Broken Bones. More intense falls can result in broken bones. While broken arms and legs are painful, these will typically heal with time. However, if damage is done to the neck or spinal cord, permanent damage can occur.
- Contusion. Hitting the ground can cause severe bruising. These painful injuries can swell and take a while to heal.
After you’ve been hurt on someone else’s property, it’s vital to report the accident and record your account of what happened. The details will be the clearest in your mind right after the incident has occurred. Your written account will provide a statement documenting what happened and when.
You should also seek medical attention. Your doctor will be able to diagnose the extent of your injuries and help you get on the path to recovery.
The written statement and your medical records can help your lawyer build you a strong case. A Norristown slip and fall lawyer at Shrager, Sachs, & Blanco will do everything possible to get you a successful outcome.
What Damages Can You Recover with Compensation?
When you’ve suffered a slip and fall injury, you will likely need medical treatment. Doctor’s appointments, medicine, treatments, and meetings with specialists may be necessary components of your recovery. Affording your medical expenses on top of other financial responsibilities can cause strain on your finances—especially if you’re unable to work. You may have PTO to use, but this may not cover the amount of work you’ll miss while you recover. That’s where our attorneys can help.
As your legal representative, we’ll seek your compensation to cover all your losses from the slip and fall accident. This will include the costs of your injuries and what you’ll need to treat them, the wages you’ve missed because you haven’t been able to go into work, and any other financial losses.
We’ll also seek nonfinancial losses like compensation for the pain and suffering you experienced and loss of enjoyment of life. Your injuries may prevent you from participating in activities or hobbies you used to enjoy or you may miss out on important events. Imagine if a father wasn’t able to walk his daughter down the aisle at her wedding because of a slip and fall injury. We’ll take everything into account when determining what you can recover.
There’s another important reason why you should have a slip and fall lawyer on your side to fight for you to receive full compensation. In Pennsylvania, while the negligent party can be held responsible for the damages they caused to the other party, if the other party also exhibited negligence that contributed to their injuries, then the compensation can be reduced.
So, let’s say you’re eligible to receive $50,000 for your injuries and damages. However, you were found to be 10% at fault for the injuries. Your compensation would be reduced by 10%, making it $45,000.
While it may seem obvious to you that you weren’t at fault for the accident, you may find as you proceed with your claim the other party is saying you were partially responsible for your injuries. Your lawyer will help show you weren’t at fault and fight for you to recover full compensation.
Seek Your Legal Options with Us
We understand how difficult it can be to deal with a legal matter when you’re trying to heal from severe injuries. Shrager, Sachs, & Blanco is here for Norristown citizens who have been hurt. When you’re seeking compensation for a slip and fall accident, it’s important to act quickly.
Depending on the type of property, you may have to come forward with a legal action within a small amount of time. Our slip and fall lawyers will know which laws apply to your case and the timeframe you have.
Seek an evaluation with an attorney today. The consultation is obligation-free and we can give you the answers you need. We’ll help make your voice be heard.
