Slip and Fall Accidents
Over one million people each year visit their local emergency room because of slip and all accidents, according to the National Floor Safety Institute. More than embarrassment, a slip and fall can lead to severe harm like injuries to your head, back, and hips. The physical, emotional, and financial costs of these sudden incidents can result in months of healing and recuperation. Assistance from an experienced Fairfield slip and fall attorney can help ensure you have the financial resources to recover.
How common are slip and fall accidents and injuries?
When you slip or trip at the grocery store or your favorite restaurant, a fall can occur as a result. The National Floor Safety Institute reports that slips and trips account for approximately 12 percent of all falls. Falls can be especially dangerous, as evidenced by the following statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- About 20 percent of falls result in a severe injury like a head injury or broken bones
- More than 800,000 people require hospitalization annually because of a fall
- Approximately 300,000 older Americans every year need hospitalization for a hip fracture, most often the result of a fall
- Falls are the number one cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Slips and falls can happen to anyone. The older you are, the more at risk you are of serious injuries that can necessitate surgery, hospital stays, and rehabilitation. Trust Norris Persinger Law’s team of knowledgeable and tenacious slip and fall attorneys to help you receive compensation when your slip and fall occurs on another’s property.
What is premises liability in Ohio and Kentucky?
Premises liability refers to the legal principle that property owners are responsible for the safety of others they invite onto their property. A property owner must fix dangerous conditions or warn guests of them so that guests and customers are not hurt. This is why a store should quickly mop up a wet spill and place placards out warning of a wet floor. A court can hold property owners who do not take reasonable steps to safeguard their guests responsible for the guests’ financial losses.
How does negligence figure into a premises liability case?
No property owner can guarantee a customer, diner, or guest will be safe on their property. Instead, property owners are only responsible for taking reasonable actions to protect those who are legally on their property. What is reasonable in any situation will depend on numerous and varied factors. A property owner who fails to take reasonable measures is said to be negligent.
When a property owner’s negligence leads to injuries in a slip and fall, you may have legal rights. This includes the right to file a lawsuit against the negligent property owner, seeking monetary damages for your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses you incurred.
How do I get damages for my losses through a lawsuit?
Although you can file a lawsuit on your own, premises liability laws in Ohio and Kentucky can be complicated. It is highly advisable to use the services of Norris Persinger Law and our insightful premises liability lawyers to help you prepare, file, and prosecute your case. In Fairfield and throughout Ohio, you have two years from the date of your slip and fall to file a lawsuit. If you suffer a slip and fall in Kentucky, you must file your case within one year.
Before and after you file your case, you and your attorney will compile information from witnesses to the accident. Photographs, surveillance footage, and other relevant documents can also support your claim for damages. Last, your lawyer will assist you in understanding the financial implications of your injuries and locate evidence to support the amount you are claiming for compensation.
Do I need an expert witness to help my case?
Your Fairfield slip and fall attorney with Norris Persinger Law can advise whether an expert witness is necessary. Experts like medical doctors or biomechanics engineers can help resolve questions of causation. However, in other cases, the facts may be clear and an expert’s opinion would not add much value to your case.
Will my case have to go to trial?
If you and the property owner have factual disagreements about your accident or injury, you may need a judge or jury to sort out the facts of your accident. That same judge or jury can also resolve any disputes regarding the extent of your injuries. However, a significant number of slip and fall lawsuits will result in a settlement agreement between you and the property owner.
A settlement agreement provides you with prompt compensation without the need for proving your case to a judge or jury at trial. But you will want to have your attorney review any possible settlement before you accept it. Once you accept a settlement, you lose your right to later pursue additional compensation through a lawsuit. Therefore, it is important that your slip and fall settlement adequately address your losses.
How do I choose a slip and fall attorney for my case?
Your legal rights matter and deserve a skilled advocate to help protect them. Look for a Fairfield, Ohio lawyer like those with Norris Persinger Law who has both the experience and resources to thoroughly look into the facts of your case. Only by understanding the property owner’s culpability and the extent of your past and future injuries can you and your attorney be prepared to pursue an appropriate resolution to your claim.
Why should I trust Norris Persinger Law with my case?
There is much assistance your premises liability lawyer can provide to you. From interviewing witnesses and securing evidence to preparing your lawsuit and negotiating with the property owner, hiring the right attorney can make a dramatic difference in the outcome of your case. Norris Persinger Law has helped countless personal injury victims all across Ohio and Kentucky, including in the Fairfield area, achieve successful outcomes in their slip and fall cases.
Contact a slip and fall attorney from Norris Persinger Law today for assistance with your slip and fall case and see why so many trust us to protect their legal rights.
