If you have fallen and sustained an injury, your rights and safety may have been compromised. Slip and fall accidents can occur inside or outside, at places of residence, business, or at a public place. Each year thousands of people suffer serious injuries as a result of a slip and fall. A slip and fall accident is one where an individual sustains an injury by slipping (or tripping) and falling due to reasonable care not being taken by the land or property owner. This type of accident falls under premises liability, which states that the possessor of land has a duty to use reasonable care to keep the premises in safe condition for all people present on the premises. A breach of duty of care makes the defendant or landowner liable for the injuries that may occur as a result of their negligence.

 

 

For premises liability to apply, the following three conditions must be present:

 

There are a number of dangerous conditions that may conceivably be the cause of a fall or injury. Cases include falls caused by cracked or uneven stairways, portions of cracked or uneven sidewalk, wet floors, or the presence of another substance or object that caused the plaintiff to fall. Any situation that could (or should) have been prevented with the use of reasonable care will result in a liability. Homeowners and places of business are expected to remedy situations where conditions may lead to an injury, such as wet floors.

 

Often times, slip and fall lawsuits are glorified by the media, with the focus of the story centered on the settlement amount. However, the victims of this type of negligence often suffer serious injuries that endure long after the settlement process is over. The compensation that slip and fall victims receive is meant to help the plaintiffs adapt to the challenges that their injury has caused them moving forward. These people are far from lucky and often times, no monetary amount can sufficiently reimburse them for their diminished quality of life.

 

If you or a loved one has suffered a slip and fall injury, your rights, health, and safety may have been jeopardized by the owner of the property. If your fall could have been prevented with reasonable care or proper signage, it is possible that you could be entitled to a damages award. Contact a lawyer and seek medical attention as soon as possible to ensure you take the necessary steps to protect your claim and your rights.