Can You Recover For A Slip And Fall Injury?

Woman's Voice: It happened in a split second. I was walking out the door and reached for the hand railing. I didn't notice it at the time, but the bolts which held the railing had rusted away. As I started down the stairs, the railing gave way. I fell almost twenty feet. I've been in the hospital for two weeks, and I don't think I'll ever be the same.

Slip and fall accidents occur every day. Whether the accident occurs on a stairway, in a supermarket, on a sidewalk, or some other unsafe place, the injuries can be severe. Extensive medical treatment, days or weeks off from work, and physical impairment or disability are often the result.

If the accident occurs on someone else's property, there is a good chance that the owner or occupant of the property has insurance coverage which includes medical payments, insurance which will pay for your medical expenses without regard to who or what caused the accident. But, to be paid for anything other than your medical expenses ... such as lost wages, pain and suffering, impaired function, or disability, you must establish two things. First, what caused the accident, and second that someone was legally at fault.

In the above example, the cause was easily established ... the railing broke away, but it must also be established that the owner or occupant of the property either knew, or should have known, that the railing was bad, and failed to do anything about it.

That's where an attorney can help. Sometimes the proof of liability is easy to establish, but in most cases we find it requires a detailed examination of the facts and often the opinion of one or more qualified experts. In this case, for instance, there are a myriad of details to be taken care of. The scene of the accident should be investigated and photographed as soon as possible, to preserve any physical evidence ... witnesses should be interviewed ... compliance with building codes or industry standards must be checked ... insurance coverage verified, and the extent of injury, medical examinations and treatment the accident victim has received must be evaluated, just to name a few.

If you've been injured in a slip and fall accident, we will be happy to talk with you about your case. You can schedule an initial consultation with an attorney in our office at no charge and with no obligation.