Slip and fall accidents are more dangerous than most of us think. Each year, over 800,000 people are hospitalized because of a fall injury. These accidents can occur anywhere- a family member’s or friend’s property, commercial premises, or land owned by the government. If a fall happens due to unsafe conditions on someone else’s property, the victim may be entitled to compensation. A premises liability claim can allow the victim to pursue damages from property owners in case their negligence caused the slip and fall accident that resulted in injuries.
Slip and fall accidents resulting from negligence
Some of the most common places where people get injured in a slip and fall accidents include supermarkets and grocery stores, hotels, casinos, restaurants, parking lots, workplaces, apartment complexes, small businesses, and many more. Quite often, the accidents are a result of someone’s negligence, including the following:
- Inadequate lighting
- Exposed electrical wires and similar tripping hazards
- Liquid spills
- Loose, torn, and bulging carpeting
- Uneven stairs, flooring, or sidewalks
- Cracked pavement
- Potholes
- Unmanaged snow and ice
- Wet and slippery floors
- Debris in walkways
- Loose floorboards
This list is far from exhaustive. There are various other ways in which slip and fall accidents can occur.
Common injuries resulting from slip, trip and fall accidents
- Broken bones
- Bumps and bruises
- Concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Severe cuts and lacerations
- Torn ligaments or sprains
- Neck injuries
- Knee and ankle injuries
- Facial injuries
- Shoulder, elbow, and wrist injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
Have you been injured in a slip or fall accident?
Depending on the severity of the injuries, a victim may need weeks or months of treatment including X-rays and other diagnostic tests, doctor visits, surgeries, hospitalization, and physical therapy. Medical expenses can quickly escalate and short-term/long-term disability can affect the person’s ability to work and earn.
If you have suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident that occurred on someone else’s property, you may wonder what your rights are and whether you can claim damages.
To understand when you can file a claim after a slip and fall accident, the accident must have been someone else’s fault. In Connecticut, this means that your injury must meet the following criteria:
- Duty of care: The property owner has the duty of care for everyone who comes onto their property with the exception of trespassers.
- Unreasonably dangerous property conditions: These conditions are mostly the result of neglect and not doing any upkeep
- Constructive or actual notice: You must prove that the property owner was aware of the dangerous conditions and failed to correct it
- Real damages: You must prove that you suffered damages
For example, if a slip and fall accident occurs in a restaurant because of wet floors that are not marked with a proper sign, you may be entitled to compensation.
Steps to take after a slip, trip or fall accident
If you have been injured in a slip-and-fall accident that occurred due to someone else’s negligence, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a claim. Failure to do so will mean that you can no longer sue. It is essential that you act immediately after the accident to avoid running out the time. After the accident, you must take these three essential steps:
- Report the injury to the property owner/manager and the police
- Document everything-take pictures of the hazard that caused the accident, if the accident occurs on a commercial property ensure that the manager creates an incident report
- Gather contact information from the eyewitnesses
- Seek medical attention-even if the injuries seem minor, make sure you see a doctor and document your injuries
- Get in touch with your lawyer
The most important thing you can do to protect your rights after any type of accident is to seek the services of an attorney as soon as possible. Once you do that, the attorney will communicate with the other party on your behalf and ensure that you take all the right steps to get the compensation you deserve.