According to the National Safety Council’s 2017 edition of
Injury Facts®, slip/trip, and falls account for the 3rd highest number of accidental deaths in the United States every year, only
behind those caused by motor vehicle accidents and drug overdoses. Unsafe
conditions, such as uneven surfaces, loose flooring, objects in the way
and bad lighting can all result in a
slip/trip and fall, however, you must prove liability in order to recover compensation.
Premises liability is a complex area of personal injury law that holds
property owners and managers responsible for certain injuries suffered
on a premises. A successful claim may lead to the recovery of medical
expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation costs and compensation for diminished
earnings, as well as for pain and suffering.
To prove liability in a slip/ trip and fall accident, you must demonstrate
the following:
- That the person who owns, leases, occupies or controls the property knew
or should have known of the dangerous condition on the premises
- That they also failed at making the condition safe or warning people of
the potential risks
- That the victim did not have a reason to know of the dangerous condition
and suffered harm as a result
If you’re injured, the first thing you should do is seek medical
attention if your injuries are severe. If your injuries are manageable,
take pictures of where and how the injury occurred. The next thing you
should do is collect contact information from the property owner (or whoever
else is around) and from any potential witnesses that can corroborate
your story. Finally, you should consider hiring an experienced personal
injury attorney.
At the Womac Law Firm, our New Orleans personal injury lawyers can walk
you through the claims process, which includes reviewing the details of
your accident, gathering any incident reports and photographs and assessing
the value of your injuries.
Call (504) 470-3935 or
contact us online
today to learn more.