Slip and Fall Accidents
When you are young, a slip and fall might be cause for embarrassment and leave you with a sore backside. As you age, though, the risks associated with a slip and fall become more severe. When you slip or trip and crash to the ground, you can injure your head and back, break your hip, or suffer other trauma. Your slip and fall attorney from Norris Persinger Law can help you get back on your feet with a judgment or settlement that addresses the costs and expenses you incurred after your fall.
Where Do Slips and Falls Occur?
According to the National Safety Council, unintentional falls, including falls that happened following a slip, were the second-leading cause of death in the United States in 2020. Both workplaces and homes could present a slip and fall risk. In all, over 42,000 people died in fall accidents, and this number includes individuals who slipped and fell to the ground.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that falls present a heightened risk of serious injury to older adults. Hip injuries and head injuries are both possible results of a slip and fall, and older Americans have a more difficult time recovering from these injuries than younger people.
Who Bears Responsibility for a Slip and Fall in Mason, Ohio?
You might be tempted to believe that you are responsible for any injuries you suffer in a slip and fall. It is not uncommon for slip and fall victims to believe if they had only watched where they were going, or if they had worn different types of shoes, then they would not have hurt themselves. Not only is this way of thinking legally incorrect, it can keep you from seeking compensation you might be owed.
The law imposes upon property owners in Ohio who invite others onto their property, such as customers or house guests, certain legal obligations. These obligations include the duties to look for and correct dangerous conditions that exist on their properties. If they cannot clean up these hazards or fix them easily, then the property owner must at least warn their guests about them.
Property owners who fail to fulfill these basic duties can be sued and held responsible for your injuries. To succeed, the available evidence and testimony would need to show that not only did the property owner fail to address a hazard on their property that they should have known about, but that you were invited to come onto the property and got hurt by the dangerous condition.
Reviewing your situation with a premises liability attorney at Norris Persinger Law can quickly uncover whether the owner of the store or business where you were hurt should compensate you. If so, we can help you take the steps you need to recover financial damages.
What Should You Do After a Slip and Fall Accident?
A slip and fall can leave you startled and in pain. But the steps you take immediately following such an accident can affect your legal right to pursue compensation. You should therefore:
- Determine if you need emergency medical care. You may need such care if you hit your head, cannot feel your extremities, or if it is painful to move.
- Inform the owner or manager on duty of your accident so they can notify their insurer
- Do not sign any document presented to you by the property owner or manager. Ask instead to take the document with you to review it with your slip and fall attorney.
- Get medical attention and follow any directions your doctor gives you.
- Make an appointment to speak with a premises liability attorney to discuss your rights and the actions you should take.
It is a crucial step that you visit the hospital or doctor’s office soon after your slip and fall. A medical evaluation or imaging can reveal injuries you did not know you sustained or that had not yet manifested. The longer you wait to see a doctor, the more challenging it becomes to recover compensation for any injuries you sustained.
How Long Can I Wait Before Filing a Lawsuit?
Ohio only gives slip and fall victims two years from the date of their injury to initiate a lawsuit. After this time passes, it is extremely difficult to obtain a settlement or judgment in your favor. Because of this deadline, you should plan on visiting the doctor and consulting with an attorney well before you come close to exceeding this limit.
Kentucky’s time limitation for slip and fall victims is even shorter. If your slip and fall happens at a Kentucky business or property, you have one year from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. Failing to do so within this short time frame can have the same consequences as in Ohio.
What Does a Slip and Fall Attorney Do and How Do I Hire the Right One?
With the right slip and fall attorney at your side, you can anticipate your lawyer will:
- Investigate the causes of your accident and determine if the property owner is at fault
- Engage in settlement negotiations with the property owner and advise you whether an appropriate settlement can be reached
- Uncover supporting evidence and witnesses to corroborate your claims and strengthen your case
- Represent you and your interests in court at all stages
To do this effectively, you will want to look for an attorney who has a proven track record of achieving positive results for slip and fall clients, both through settlements and trial verdicts. Interview firms you are considering and avoid those which make grand promises or that do not listen to your needs and concerns.
Where Can I Turn for Additional Help?
If you have been hurt in a slip and fall accident in Mason, Ohio, or elsewhere in Ohio or Kentucky, look no further than the talented premises liability attorneys at Norris Persinger Law. The sooner you speak with us about your case, the sooner we can get to work for you and your recovery. Contact us today.