One of the most common ways to get injured is slipping and falling, and although this may seem superficial, it can cause life-changing consequences to the victim. This is why it is imperative to find a personal injury attorney to fight slip and fall cases and get the financial compensation the victims deserve.
The Keating Firm has tremendous experience winning slip and fall cases, and it's more than happy to help clients fight to settle their claims.
What Are Slip and Fall Injuries?
"Slip and fall" is a term coined to refer to all injuries caused by anything similar to a slip, trip, or fall. These injuries are the most common injuries we can find in America's emergency rooms, and they're usually caused by the negligent action of the property owner.
Types of Slip and Fall Injuries
There are several types of slip and fall injuries. However, the most common involve broken bones, strained muscles, and even nerve damage. It should be kept in mind that slip and fall accidents can be more severe if the victim is a young child or a senior citizen, as they are more vulnerable to suffering permanent damages.
Is a Slip and Fall Case Hard to Prove?
Slip and fall accidents can be hard to prove because the victim must demonstrate that the other party acted negligently and directly caused the fall. Moreover, sometimes there's a lack of evidence, as you need to either have witnesses or videos that prove the slip and fall incident.
What Is the Average Settlement for a Slip and Fall?
This is going to depend on the consequences the accident caused to the victim. In order to calculate a proper settlement, the personal injury lawyer must consider medical expenses, lost wages, and any potential disability that the victim may suffer.
However, if the judge determines that the victim is partly at fault for the accident, they may reduce a percentage of the settlement.
How Long Does It Take to Settle a Slip and Fall Lawsuit?
This depends on the case's complexity and how much time it takes for both parties to build a good defense. The best-case scenario is settling the claim out of court, but this rarely happens in cases that involve disability. Still, the claim may remain open for as long as it takes to find the best possible result.
Common Causes of Slip & Fall Accidents
Several situations can cause slip and fall accidents. Some of the most common are the following:
Unproperly lit staircases and hallways
Ice and snow
Misuse of signals
Lack of cleaning and maintenance
Slip on Ice or Snow
This is a common cause of slip and fall accidents during the winter, so property owners must make sure to remove the snow and use the proper equipment to ensure all the people that go into their property are entirely safe.
Fall Down Stairs
People can fall down stairs if the staircase isn't correctly built, if there's any spillage in the way, or if there are no railings. That's why all stairs must be built according to state regulations.
What Should I Do After Sustaining a Slip & Fall Injury?
If the victim wants to help their personal injury lawyer get the best result, they should follow the next steps after they get injured.
Get Medical Attention
The first thing to do is go to the hospital and take care of all wounds. This is also great for the case, as the victim is going to need professional proof of the injuries.
Report the Slip and Fall
Before leaving the scene, the victim must write a detailed report on the accident and send it to the authorities.
Document Details
Then, the victim should record evidence of everything they think may help their claim, as proving liability tends to be the most challenging part of all slip and fall cases. This will help slip and fall lawyers in Columbus Ohio create their case.
Don't Give a Statement
The best thing to do is not say or post anything on social media until after getting legal help from a reliable personal injury lawyer who can advise the victim on the best way to proceed.
Get Qualified Personal Injury Lawyers
Now is the moment to call a personal injury lawyer who can provide legal services and strong representation against the other party.
Navigating the Complex Slip and Fall Injuries' Paperwork
The personal injury lawyer is going to take care of all the matters regarding paperwork and collecting evidence. Still, the victim must be aware of everything going on, as they need to work side-by-side with the personal injury attorney.
Keep Honoring Medical Appointments
Finally, the last step before starting to work on the claim is to keep honoring the medical treatment, as no court is going to take a victim seriously if they don't show they want to get better.
Gathering Evidence
A Worthington personal injury lawyer is going to go through police records, talk with witnesses and professionals, and gather any video or photo that proves the other party's liability. They may do this by themselves or with a professional investigator, but it is one of the most important steps for building a solid case for their clients.
Who Is Liable for the Personal Injury Case?
Several people can be held liable for a slip and fall accident, but in most cases, the blame falls onto the property owner or any other person in charge of the area where the accident happened. Still, there are some cases where the victim is partly liable.
How to Prove Negligence in a Slip and Fall
The lawyer needs to establish a breach of duty between the party at fault and the victim, which may have been caused by negligent or intentional actions, and ultimately ended up causing the accident.
Could the Accident Have Been Avoided?
When trying to prove negligence, the lawyer should determine if the other party should have known about the cause of the accident or could have somehow avoided it. If the answer to those questions is yes, they may be liable for the accident.
How to Find the Best Slip & Fall Injury Lawyer?
It is important to consider several factors when choosing a good personal injury lawyer, such as:
The years of experience they have
Their education
How many cases they've won
The rapport with their clients
Their reputation
Legal Know-how
The Statute of Limitations
It is stated that the victim must file the claim within two years, or they may not be able to receive compensation for their injuries.
Premises Liability
These are cases in which one party is responsible for the victim's injuries. Personal injury claims are premises liability.
Comparative Negligence
If the victim had any part of the fault, the state could choose not to allow them to receive their full compensation.
Is an Attorney Needed for Slip and Fall Accidents?
If the slip and fall accident caused severe consequences for the victim, the best thing to do is to hire a personal injury lawyer, as they provide the following benefits:
Legal Advice
Personal injury lawyers in Worthington have the needed experience to give trustworthy legal advice on how to proceed with the claim.
Establishing Negligence
Worthington personal injury lawyers can collect all the required evidence to prove the negligence of the party at fault.
Calculating Damages
A personal injury attorney is aware of all the consequences their customers can have due to their injuries, which helps determine how much money they should get.
Negotiating a Settlement
A slip and fall accident lawyer can negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company for their clients and earn more than the initial offering.
Court Representation
If the case happens to go to court, the best way to proceed is by hiring a licensed personal injury attorney, as they know the ins and outs of how to manage themselves in court.
Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer from The Keating Firm
Expertise and Experience
The criminal defense lawyers of the Keating Firm are familiar with personal injury cases, as they have dealt with hundreds of them throughout their professional life.
Competitive Prices
These super lawyers in Worthington, OH, know that it may be hard for most people to afford legal services, so they work at a competitive rate and only charge their clients after winning the case.
High Rate of Success
Most of the clients of these outstanding lawyers end up winning their cases and would recommend their services.
Client Satisfaction
Personal injury clients who hire lawyers from the Keating Firm always end up extremely satisfied and claim to love the service and rapport established during the case.
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Bottom Line
Personal injury cases are a terrible thing to deal with, especially if they're severe enough to result in wrongful death. The Keating Firm decided to open its doors to anyone who may need legal services or a free consultation.
Anyone is free to reach out at any time by simply calling the number at the bottom of this page.