Slip & Fall

Slipping and falling may not sound like a traumatic event, but it can have real, long-lasting effects on a person’s health and happiness. The stigma that often accompanies these incidents (e.g., “You should have been watching where you were going”) is unfair and misleading. The truth is that in many cases, the person fell because of an unsafe condition that should have been remedied by the property owner or manager.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall – whether it occurred at a restaurant, store, in an apartment building, or elsewhere – Whitfield Coleman Montoya’s premises liability attorneys may be able to help. To find out if you qualify for compensation through a slip and fall lawsuit, contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.

What to Do After a Slip and Fall

After a fall, you might be too shaken up to even think about the most prudent steps to take – understandably so. If you ever find yourself in this situation, though, here is what you should do:

• Seek medical treatment. Your health comes first. If you’ve been injured, go to the doctor and follow their instructions. Not only will this help you get better, but it will serve as proof of the severity of your injury in the event that you file a lawsuit.
• Take photos of the scene. If you or someone you know is able, take photos of the scene where you fell as soon as possible – especially if there was a hazardous condition present. This evidence could be invaluable.
• Collect contact information from witnesses. If anyone saw you slip and fall, ask for their name, phone number, email address, etc. They may be able to serve as witnesses who can verify what happened.
• Contact an attorney. A premises liability lawyer can help determine if you have a viable lawsuit, and if so, how much compensation you may be owed. After seeking medical treatment and letting loved ones know what happened, they should be your next call.

Examples of Dangerous Conditions

Property managers have a legal obligation to maintain safe conditions on their premises. When they fail to do so, and someone is injured as a result, they may be liable for any expenses (or “damages”) related to the injury. Here are some examples of hazardous conditions that can lead to slip and fall injuries:

• Spills or puddles
• Icy patches
• Wet or slick steps
• Missing steps or handrails
• Cracked or uneven sidewalks
• Potholes
• Escalator malfunctions

When the owner or manager of the property knows or should have known about one of the conditions above, and they fail to take care of it and/or warn residents or patrons, they can potentially be held responsible for any injuries that occur.

Types of Slip and Fall Injuries

Many people who slip and fall are lucky to come away with just light bruises, but it’s also common for more severe injuries to occur in these situations, such as the following:

• Deep cuts and abrasions
• Broken bones (especially in the foot, ankle, wrist, or hip)
• Back and spinal cord injuries
• Soft tissue injuries such as sprains
• Torn ligaments, especially in the knee
• Head injuries, including skull fractures, concussions, and traumatic brain injuries
• Paralysis

Some of these injuries have lifelong ramifications for the person who fell. That’s why it’s so important that the injured party is able to cover the cost of medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.

Premises Liability Compensation

Through a premises liability lawsuit, a plaintiff who was injured in a slip and fall incident may be able to recover compensation for the following damages:

• Medical costs (including hospital stays, medicine, and physical therapy)
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity (if they can no longer do the job they had prior to their injury)
• Pain and suffering
• Psychological distress
• Any other expenses related to their injury

After a slip and fall, the liable party may make a settlement offer that on its face appears generous. But before accepting or signing any such offer, it is advisable to speak with an attorney who can gauge the true value of these cases. The last thing an injured person wants to do is accept a lowball offer, only to realize later that their injury is going to cost them ten times that amount.

How Whitfield Coleman Montoya Can Help

Our attorneys have decades of experience fighting for people who were injured because of others’ negligence, and we have recovered over $1 billion for our clients across all practice areas. We’re tough, experienced, and empathetic, and it costs nothing up front to hire us. We get paid only if we successfully resolve your case.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall incident, contact us for a free consultation to see if you’re entitled to compensation.

Call: 615-921-6500 for a free and confidential consultation with an experienced attorney at the Whitfield Coleman Montoya.

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