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When people think of accidents that are likely to cause personal injury, slipping and falling are not usually among the first things to come to mind. What they do not realize is just how many of these accidents occur daily, with a lot of them resulting in medical treatment.
Over 1 million Americans suffer a slip and fall injury every year, and of these, 17,000 are fatal accidents. Those are big numbers for such a seemingly insignificant accident. The most common victims are the elderly, whose reduced mobility and coordination make them more likely to fall and seriously injure themselves.
The Powell Law Firm, a personal injury law firm in Clayton, MO, gives victims of slip and fall accidents a chance to fight for their rights and be awarded damages for any injuries or emotional distress they have suffered. These do not always have to be severe injuries because compensation can be given for any type of personal injury from a slip and fall accident.
At times people slip and fall entirely because of their own carelessness, but at times, these accidents are caused by the actions and negligence of others. It is at times like these that a personal injury lawyer is needed, and Powell Law Firm is among the very best personal injury attorneys in Clayton, MO. Visit our law offices for a free consultation today!
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
To receive a favorable judgment in a slip and fall lawsuit, personal injury attorneys have to first establish fault for the accident. This requires carefully looking at the events that resulted in the victim getting injured and, therefore, determining whether any malice, negligence, or carelessness was the cause of the accident.
There are a lot of different things that can cause a slip and fall accident to happen that personal injury attorneys have to consider, and some of them are discussed below.
Uneven Floors
A fall can happen because of poor workmanship during floor construction or inadequate maintenance during the period of use, which can result in uneven floors. If this happens in such areas, depending on who is responsible, the victim can be rewarded damages against either the construction company that made the floors or whoever is in charge of building maintenance.
Wet Surfaces
In Clayton, MO, one of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents is wet floors. This generally happens when workers decide to clean public areas during busy hours when foot traffic is at its highest.
Any failure to put up adequate warning signs about the wet floor can result in a slip and fall, and personal injury which can be regarded as negligence on the part of the building's management. A St Louis MO slip and fall lawyer can help you get back on your feet.
Irregular Stairs
The way people are used to climbing up and down stairs means that any slight difference in height of each stair can cause a person to trip and fall. In this case, it is the constructors of the staircase that will face the wrath of personal injury law. Personal injury lawyers deal with a lot of such cases where victims fall from stairs that were improperly constructed.
Tripping Hazards
Any items that are left lying around in public walkways can be seen as tripping hazards. An example is when tools are left on the floor in a busy work area. If a worker falls and injures themselves after tripping on these tools they are eligible for damages for any personal injury that results from such an accident. In most cases, it is the employer or their insurance company that is liable to compensate the worker.
Poor Visibility
Poor lighting in public walkways or building corridors is a major personal injury risk. Mangers in these areas have the responsibility of keeping them safe, and one of the things they need to do is to ensure that there is adequate lighting. If a fall takes place due to poor lighting, it can be seen as negligence, especially when it results in personal injury.
Nursing Home Neglect
The elderly are among the most at-risk members of society, and as such, it is the responsibility of those entrusted with their care to ensure that no accidents such as falls are allowed to happen. Their frail bodies mean that this type of accident can easily be fatal, which makes nursing home neglect one of the most dangerous causes on this list.
If personal injury lawyers can demonstrate that the staff was negligent in its duties of taking care of the elderly, huge damages can be won by personal injury attorneys on behalf of the victim.
Types of Injuries Caused By Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall personal injury cases usually deal with a variety of injuries that range from mild, to severe, depending on the nature of the fall. In Clayton, MO, young children and the elderly are the most likely victims of slip and fall accidents, but the majority of personal injury cases center on older people because they are usually the ones to suffer serious injuries.
Some common slip and fall injuries are:
Broken bones
Soft tissue injuries
Hip fractures
Traumatic head injuries
Bruises, cuts, and abrasions
Sprained wrists or ankles
Back and spinal cord injuries
Neck and shoulder injury
Knee damage
Do You Really Need a Personal Injury Lawyer for a Slip and Fall Case?
As simple as slip and fall personal injury cases may seem at first, the process of receiving fair compensation in court requires good legal representation. This is especially true in cases where the insurance company is reluctant to pay damages without a fight. In such cases, it is best to have an experienced personal injury lawyer handling the lawsuit.
There is a lot that the right law firm can achieve, even when the odds of winning are slim. Sometimes, it takes the vast amount of knowledge, and experience, that Clayton personal injury lawyers such as Powell Law Firm have, to be able to recognize the best strategy to win in tough situations.
Let us look at what the right personal injury lawyer can do for slip and fall victims in Clayton, MO.
Discuss the Details of the Case
As soon as victims contact Powell Law Firm, the first thing their assigned personal injury lawyer will do is offer them a free case evaluation so they can fully discuss the case. Victims may walk in feeling that they have no chance of getting any personal injury compensation, but with the right legal assistance, they will soon realize the merits of the case.
Establish Fault
Before proceeding any further, a personal injury attorney will analyze all the evidence available, including photos, videos, witness reports, medical records, and any other available information, to establish who is at fault.
Give Legal Advice and Formulate a Strategy
Once the fault has been determined, the next step is to decide how best to win and get the maximum personal injury damages awarded to the victim.
Negotiate Out-of-Court Settlement
At times, the insurance company being sued will not wish to drag the case through a lengthy trial that might not only be costly but also damage its reputation. A good personal injury lawyer can take advantage of this, and have the issues settled out of court, in return for favorable terms regarding compensation.
Fight for Victims To Receive Fair Compensation
In Clayton, MO, the personal injury victim is entitled to receive damages that cover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, reduced quality of life, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and any other damages that the personal injury attorney can prove.
This is the most crucial part of the lawsuit because it determines how much the victim will eventually walk away with. That is why it requires all the expertise that a personal injury lawyer can bring if they hope to achieve outstanding results.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
To make the job of fighting for fair compensation in a personal injury claim easier for a personal injury lawyer, there are a few things that the victim can do before going to their free consultation.
Whether it is a simple personal injury case, or whether it concerns wrongful death, the following steps will be helpful to remember:
Seek medical treatment (or coroner's report in the event of wrongful death)
Collect evidence and take photos of the scene
Talk to any witnesses to the accident
Report the incident to the responsible party
Visit Powell Law Firm in Clayton, MO, for a free consultation.
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Don’t Waste Any Time! Call Powell Law Firm Right Now!
The time starts ticking from the moment the slip and fall accident happens so victims need to seek legal representation quickly. Considering that in Clayton, MO, the statute of limitations on personal injury cases is two years from the day of the incident or three years in the case of wrongful death, there is no time to waste before going for that free case review.
Powell Law Firm has a proven record of taking on large insurance companies to recover money on behalf of their clients. Victims of slip and fall accidents don't need to look any further for the best personal injury lawyers in Clayton, MO.