Many of us have slipped and fallen down at some point in our lives, only to get up and brush ourselves off, heading on our way with only a bruised ego. However, many slip and fall victims are not nearly this fortunate, as their falls may result in serious and lasting injuries. One moment they were grocery shopping and the next, they were in the emergency room and facing piles of medical bills, ongoing treatment, missed work, and more.
If your slip and fall accident caused you serious injuries and losses, it is only natural to wonder whether the law entitles you to compensation for your many losses. The best step is to discuss your specific situation with an experienced St. Louis slip and fall lawyer who can evaluate your individual rights.
Liability for Slip and Falls
Some slip and fall accidents happen because someone simply loses their balance or trips over their own two feet. In these situations, there may not be the possibility to recover compensation, as no one else was to blame for the fall. However, if you’re at all unsure, it never hurts to discuss what happened with an attorney.
In many cases, it may be clear that something else led to your slip and fall. Stores, businesses, and property owners are all responsible for keeping their premises safe for customers and visitors, but sometimes, they fail to do so. When business owners or managers fail to properly inspect the property, identify hazards, and address them as soon as possible, hazards can lead to slips and falls.
Some conditions that may lead to liability for a slip and fall accident include:
- Wet floors without proper warning signs
- Items or debris left on the ground
- Failure to clean up liquid spills
- Slippery flooring materials
- Rugs without non-skid pads
- Ramps without handrails
- Failure to address snow or ice residue
If you fell because of negligence on the part of an owner or management that allowed hazards to persist, you may have important rights to compensation.
Slip and Fall Insurance Claims
When you determine that a business or property owner caused your fall, you will need to determine the right insurance claim to file. Often, this is with a company’s general liability insurance or a residential owner’s property insurance. In either case, you can expect an uphill battle, as the insurer will generally try to challenge liability for the accident or the value of your losses. Having the assistance of the right attorney from the start of your claim can often improve your settlement offer and relieve the stress and frustration of dealing with insurance adjusters.
Our lawyers often obtain compensation for slip and fall victims, including:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical costs
- Lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
You only have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit if an insurance claim is inadequate, so please do not delay in beginning the legal process today.
Contact Our St. Louis Personal Injury Attorneys for More Information
Whether or not you can recover compensation for your slip and fall depends on the details of your accident. Do not hesitate to discuss what happened with the skilled legal team at Bruntrager & Billings, P.C. Call 314-646-0066 or contact us online to schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation.
