Slip and fall accidents can happen anytime, anywhere. They can happen at work, at home, or even while shopping in a store. These types of accidents can be minor, but sometimes, they can lead to serious injuries.
If you slipped and fell in a store, you could be entitled to justice and compensation. At Henderson Law, we have experienced slip-and-fall attorneys who can help you get the most compensation possible for your injuries.
Below, we will discuss some basics about slip and fall lawsuits and some issues surrounding liability in these types of suits. This way, you can be more fully informed before initiating your legal claim.
Slip and Fall Statistics
According to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), slip and fall accidents account for more than 8 million hospital emergency room visits each year. Further, slip and fall injuries are the number one cause of accidental injuries. These statistics are disheartening, as many slip-and-fall accidents are preventable.
In addition, the risk of slipping and falling increases as you age. In the United States, about one in four adults over the age of 65 report falling each year. These falls can lead to expensive medical bills, as $50 billion is spent on medical costs from non-fatal fall injuries each year.
Conditions That Can Lead to Slip and Fall Accidents
There is a wide range of causes for slips and falls. However, in stores, some conditions are more prone to causing such injuries. These conditions include the following:
- Refrigeration leaks,
- Uneven surfaces with no warning signs,
- Spilled liquids that are not cleaned up,
- Overuse of floor wax,
- Ice that is not salted,
- Oil leaks in parking lots,
- Inadequate lighting,
- Unsafe ladders or stairs, and
- Improperly maintained cords or wires.
If you have been injured due to one of the above conditions, you should reach out to a slip and fall attorney as soon as possible.
Common Slip and Fall Injuries
When you accidentally slip and fall in a store, it can lead to either minor or serious injuries. Some of the most common injuries from slip and fall accidents include the following:
- Broken bones,
- Concussions,
- Neck injures,
- Back injuries,
- Lacerations or cuts,
- Spinal cord injuries,
- Dislocated shoulders, and
- Soft tissue injuries.
These are just some of the types of injuries you could suffer if you slip and fall.
What to Do if You Slip and Fall in a Store
Step 1: Seek Medical Treatment
To preserve your health and your right to sue for your injuries down the line, the first thing you want to do after a slip and fall accident is to get evaluated by a medical specialist. Further, doing this immediately after the accident will show that you incurred your injuries during the incident and not from another subsequent event.
Step 2: Document the Accident
Documentation of the accident is essential. If possible, try and take photos of the scene and document the events leading up to the accident. In addition, speak to witnesses to see if they would be willing to testify to what they saw. A slip-and-fall accident attorney can always assist you in building sufficient evidence as well.
Step 3: Speak to a Slip and Fall Attorney
One of the most important steps after slipping and falling in a store is reaching out to a slip and fall accident attorney. An attorney can help you follow the proper procedures if you are going to file a legal claim. Further, they will be able to help you build the strongest case possible so that you can recover the most amount of compensation for your injuries.
Step 4: Keep Records
After a slip and fall accident, you will want to keep all relevant documentation in a safe place. These documents should include medical bills, hospital records, photos of the scene, and any records of any conversations you had with the property owner.
Who Is Liable for a Slip and Fall in a Store?
Liability for a slip and fall in a store generally turns on whether or not the property owner owed you a duty of care. Whether or not the property owner owed you a duty of care will depend on what type of visitor you were on the property. Under premises liability law, there are three types of visitors: invitees, licensees, and trespassers.
Property owners owe the highest duties of care to invitees. And when you are a customer in a store, you are considered an invitee. Therefore, the owner of a store must use reasonable care to ensure that their customers, or invitees, remain safe while in their establishment.
When it comes to slip and fall accidents, to show that the property owner was liable for your slip and fall, you will have to show that they were negligent. To show a property owner was negligent, you will have to show the following elements:
- Duty: You must show that the property owner owed you a duty of care;
- Breach: You must show that the property owner breached that duty of care;
- Causation: You need to prove that the property owner’s breach of duty caused your injuries; and
- Damages: You must have suffered some form of ascertainable harm from your injuries.
However, each situation is unique, and building a case can be complex. So, a slip-and-fall accident attorney can explain these elements and how they relate to your case.
How Can the Henderson Law Firm Help You?
If you slipped and fell in a store, you can likely hold the property owner liable for your injuries. At Henderson Law, we have been helping California injury plaintiffs for over 20 years, and we have the experience necessary to fight for your rights in a slip-and-fall case. To book an appointment or schedule a free consultation, you can reach out to us online or by phone at 707-843-3743.