Assistance to Individuals in Slip and Fall Accidents
Nearly everyone has fallen once in their life. These falls are often temporary embarrassment, allowing you to continue your day as usual. In some cases, however, falls victims may sustain serious injuries that require intensive treatment and can significantly impact their lives.
The Miami slip and falls accident lawyers at Vaval Law are dedicated to helping severely injured victims of slip and fall accidents recover from their losses. If you were injured in a slip-and-fall accident, please call us at 833-VAVAL-LAW.
Common Fall and Slip Injuries
Slips and falls can cause a variety of injuries. Here are some of the most common:
- Broken Bones – A break in bone structure continuity causes broken bones or bone fractures. Broken bones can take many forms and require treatment that ranges from simple rest to invasive surgery. A person can fall and cause a fracture if they are struck hard enough. Broken bones can cause disfigurement or scarring.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) are caused by a head bump or jolt that disrupts normal brain function. A concussion is the most common type of TBI. However, it can cause serious complications. TBIs that are more severe can cause cognitive and emotional problems as well as issues with speech and communication.
- Spinal Cord Injuries (SCIs) – Spinal cord injuries or SCIs are injuries to the spinal cord. Trauma to the spine can cause secondary damage to the cord or pressure. Injuries to the spinal cord can cause serious complications, as it is responsible for communicating messages between the brain with the rest of our bodies. Damage to the spinal cord can cause paralysis, weakness of muscles, mobility problems, and skin irritation.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Soft tissue injuries are when a person’s muscles, ligaments, or tendons are damaged. Soft tissue injuries include tendonitis, stress injuries, and strains, as well as sprains, strains, and sprains. They can cause swelling, pain, bruising, and function loss.
These injuries and others sustained in slip-and-fall accidents can result in significant medical bills. Victims may be unable to return to work for a prolonged period.
Many of these injuries may require long-term and extensive medical treatment. These include hospitalization, surgery and rehabilitation, medication, equipment, and home health care. Many slip-and-fall victims never fully recover and can be left with permanent disabilities. Fall accidents are the leading cause of accidental death in America, with approximately 25,000 deaths yearly.
Negligence Can Lead To Slips, Trips, And Falls
Many are confused about who is responsible for their fall after being injured in a slip-and-fall accident. Accident victims have the right to sue parties for any losses if they are held accountable for the negligence that caused or contributed to their fall. Our slip and fall lawyers at Vaval Law can help determine if someone else’s negligence caused your fall.
Negligence is when one party fails to fulfill a duty of care due to an accident victim. Businesses and property owners are legally responsible for keeping their premises safe for customers and visitors. Regular inspections of the premises are necessary to find and fix any potential dangers. If the property owner permits a threat to existing, and you slip and fall due to it, they likely have breached their duty to care. You should be compensated for any injuries.
Here are some examples of negligence that can lead to slip-and-fall accidents.
- Items, furniture, or debris that are not allowed to be walked on
- If liquid spillages are not dealt with promptly
- No warning signs for slippery or wet floors
- Carpet or tile that is too worn
- Uneven flooring surfaces
- Broken or inadequate handrails
- Loose or broken stairs
- An electrical cord that is not securely attached to the wall
- Slip-resistant area rugs
If you are injured because a property owner allows such conditions to exist, you can be awarded fair compensation. Even if the property owner didn’t know of the state, they could be held responsible if they had done proper inspections. Ignorance is not an acceptable defense if the hazard has been present for a long time enough that the property owner should know about it.
Sometimes property owners or businesses can’t eliminate a slip-and-fall hazard immediately. Visitors and customers should be warned if this is the case. This is often seen when businesses mop floors that are not drying immediately. Signage should indicate that the floor is still wet to let customers know they need to be cautious or stay away from those areas. Failure to provide the necessary warnings can lead to a business being found negligent and potentially liable for any injuries or losses suffered by slip-and-fall victims.
Determining if your slip and fall accident was caused by negligence can be confusing. There are many types of failure that can be involved in slip-and-fall accidents. An experienced premises liability lawyer can help you understand your rights following a slip or fall.
