Have you been injured? If you were involved in a slip and fall accident, someone else may be liable to you for your injuries.

Slip and fall accidents

Countless individuals are injured each year in slip and fall accidents. You may have slipped on an uneven surface, an icy sidewalk, a wet walkway, or defect stairs. Slip and fall accidents can occur anywhere – at a department store, the mall, a restaurant, the airport, or at someone’s home. If the owner of the property where you injured yourself knew about the condition or should have known about the condition and did nothing to correct it, they may be liable to you for your injuries.

Determining liability

In order for a property owner to be held liable for injuries which occur as a result of a slip and fall on their property, it must be proven that the owner:

1. Created the dangerous condition;
2. Had actual knowledge of the condition and failed to correct it; or
3. Should have known about the condition and failed to take steps to correct it or warn others about the dangerous or hazardous condition.

Factors to consider in the analysis include how long the dangerous condition existed, whether the owner took reasonable steps to discover dangerous and/or hazardous conditions on their property, whether the individual who was injured contributed to the cause of the accident through their own negligence. These factors and others will help determine liability in a slip and fall accident.

Damages

If the owner of the property is liable to you, the amount of your damages will need to be calculated. Damages may include loss of earnings, out of pocket medical expenses and pain and suffering. In some instances, the owner and/or his insurance carrier may be willing to offer money to settle a claim, but in other instances, a jury will determine the amount of damages following a trial. Either way, while nobody can turn back time and prevent the injuries to you, a skilled attorney can help get you compensation for the injury you have suffered.