Slip and Fall Injuries

Slip and fall accidents happen every day of the year, and most of us don’t even realize we’ve been involved in one. That’s good when you consider the fact that most slip and fall accidents result in nothing more than a bit of embarrassment and momentary humiliation. Unfortunately, that’s not the case in all slip and fall accidents. Sometimes the person who has a slip and fall incident in a public location is badly injured, and we are not talking just their pride. Some accidents of this nature result in life-threatening injuries that change the course of their lives for the foreseeable future.

Sadly, there are also slip and fall accidents that result in death. While it could happen, we are not talking about your run of the mill slip and fall while wearing a pair of heels too high or in the middle of the parking lot in the midst of a rain storm in flip flops with smooth bottoms. We’re talking about the kind of slip and fall accidents that send victims careening down an unlit staircase or cause them to fall on a wet floor in the middle of a hallway that should not be wet. A situation in which a fall could have been prevented with commonplace safety signs or common sense fixtures is what we are discussing today.

Learn How Tom Schimmerling Can Represent Your Slip-and-fall Accident Case

At Schimmerling Law, we have ample experience helping our clients with slip and fall accidents that have changed their lives. The laws surrounding slip and fall accidents vary greatly, and it is our job to help you understand whether or not you have a case when a fall is due to the negligence of another person or place of business.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

Anyone can slip and fall anywhere; it’s just a result of being clumsy or not paying attention. Most everyone trips and falls on a regular basis without any injuries or without anyone to blame but themselves. However, sometimes you slip and fall and it is because someone did not do their job correctly, and you become the person who pays the ultimate price. It’s not uncommon to trip and fall of your own accord, but there are many instances in which a slip and a fall are not your fault. Anything can happen at any time, but these are a few of the most common types of slip and fall accidents.

•   Spilled liquid
•   Water somewhere it should not be
•   Poor construction
•   Construction malfunctions
•   Unclean floors covered in mud and water
•   Broken stairs
•   Broken steps
•   Broken handrails
•   Broken flooring/cracked flooring
•   Floors designed from the wrong material

If any of these instances cause you to slip and fall somewhere other than your home, the accident might not be your fault. For example, a business owner who does not clean up their floors after a leak might be liable for the accident if you slipped on leaked water that they knew was there. There are so many fine lines, rules, regulations and issues at hand here that it’s not always easy to know whether or not your slip and fall accident is a result of negligence, which is why the attorneys at Schimmerling Law are here to help you understand what happened to you.

How Are Property Owners to Blame?

Many people mistakenly believe that their slip and fall accidents are a result of their own carelessness. This might be true, but it’s not always your fault. Sometimes you find yourself in a situation in which someone else left something out of place and caused you to fall. All property owners are required to keep their property clear of ice and snow in the winter, to keep their stairways lit, their pavement in good condition and their floors free and clear. That is their obligation, and it is your right to trust that they have done so to encourage your personal safety.

Our job is to determine whether or not the claim you are making is reasonable, and whether or not the property owner is at fault. For example, if you slip and fall on ice at your doctor’s office because the office’s gutters are full due to lack of maintenance and water drips onto the ground in front of the door since it has nowhere to drain, turns into ice and you fall, that’s something we consider reasonable maintenance and common sense.

On the same note, if you are a renter and you don’t clear your sidewalks and the paperwork you signed for your rental agreement states that the renter is responsible for the clearing of ice and snow while living in the dwelling and you slip and fall because you did not keep up your end of the bargain, that is not a reasonable complaint.

What is the Process of Determining A Slip and Fall Accident?

If you believe you are the victim of a slip and fall accident that is through the fault of someone else, your job is to take photos, gather evidence and make the case easier to prove. It’s always a good idea to take immediate photos of what caused you to fall, of the injuries you sustained and to find any witnesses able to corroborate your story. The more evidence we have to prove that your slip and fall is someone else’s fault, the easier it is for us to win the case for you and allow you to get on with your life for good.

At the end of the day, we have to prove that your slip and fall incident is the fault of someone else who should have known that the conditions in their place of work or business were unsafe. If we can prove that, we can help you win your slip and fall case.

Injuries Associated with A Slip and Fall Accident

Anything can happen, but there are several injuries that are more common in a slip and fall accident than any other. This might include lacerations, the need for stitches, broken bones, head injuries, brain injuries, paralysis and even death.

When a slip and fall accident occurs and you sustain an injury, you will acquire medical bills that need to be paid. It’s not uncommon for those who suffer severely from falling to be out of work for some time. This causes a loss of income, which could cause a loss of insurance. If you have to pay for surgeries, rehabilitation, your regular expenses and more while out of work, the bills can pile up and leave you in a financial bind. It is the responsibility of the person who caused your accident due to neglect to issue you compensation to help with these expenses and for turning your entire life upside down.

Call Today For A Free Consultation

If you or someone you love is the victim of a slip and fall accident, call the attorneys at Schimmerling Law today to discuss your option. Tom Schimmerling and his staff are experienced in slip and fall accident cases, and we can help you recover from your injuries as well as receive the compensation that you deserve.  Call (607) 772-5291 or fill out the form on this page for a FREE slip and fall case evaluation.