Lynchburg Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers
Slip and fall accidents can be caused by a variety of factors, from spilled liquid on the floor to icy steps. Slip and fall accidents can cause victims serious injuries that result in ongoing medical expenses and pain and suffering. If you or a loved one have been seriously injured from a slip and fall accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.
Property owners are legally obligated to keep their properties reasonably safe to prevent injuries. When they fail to keep their properties reasonably safe, victims cannot pursue compensation from them through an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. The attorneys at Straw Law Firm are here to help you pursue the full and fair compensation you need and deserve.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
When our attorneys investigate slip and fall accidents, we often find that the blame lies with property owners, managers, or their employees. Unfortunately, many slip and fall accidents are entirely preventable. Had the business owner or employee used reasonable care, the victim may not have slipped and fallen and suffered serious injuries. Some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents include the following:
- A recently waxed or mopped floor that does not have a warning sign for guests or customers
- Spells of food or drink on floors that are not cleaned up promptly
- Debris, electrical cords, or other objects and pedestrian pathways
- An adequate lighting
- Low lying obstacles
- Loose stairs or stairs without handrails
- Loose flooring materials or loose floor mats
- Broken, chipped, or loose pavement or potholes on the sidewalk or in the parking lot
- Icy, slippery steps leading up to a business
What Injuries Can be Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents?
Many people right off slip and fall accidents as relatively minor, but in some cases, these types of accidents can cause catastrophic injuries. Children and elderly individuals are more likely to suffer serious injuries, including bone fractures. It is not uncommon for the attorneys at Straw Law Firm to help clients who have sustained the following types of injuries:
- Severe sprains or strains
- Broken or dislocated bones
- Hip fractures
- Open head wounds
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Whiplash injuries
- Puncture or laceration wounds
- Bruises
When elderly individuals break their hips in a slip-and-fall accident, their mobility could be permanently impaired. Many elderly individuals cannot gain full mobility after a hip fracture. They may need to spend significant time in a rehabilitation or assisted living facility. Similarly, those who suffer head injuries may experience ongoing symptoms that limit their ability to return to work and engage in activities they once loved.
Do I Need an Attorney?
You may wonder whether you need an attorney if you have been injured in a slip-and-fall accident. Perhaps the at-fault party has already made you an offer for compensation. You may be concerned about your mounting medical bills and tempted to accept the offer quickly. However, discussing your case with an attorney is wise before you agree to a settlement offer. Most initial settlement offers are far too low and will not cover your current and future medical expenses. An attorney can carefully review your case, your injuries, and the cause of your slip and fall accident.
After carefully reviewing, your attorney can aggressively negotiate the best offer possible. Additionally, an attorney can help you protect your legal rights. For example, if the insurance company is acting in bad faith, you may have a right to pursue a legal claim against the insurance company. Investigations are crucial to succeeding in slip-and-fall cases. The attorneys at Straw Law Firm have the resources and knowledge necessary to investigate your case quickly after it happens.
We can help you gather evidence from the accident scene, including photographs and video surveillance footage. We will also obtain accident reports, property owner safety history records, and more. Finally, an attorney can ensure that you are adequately cared for by a medical professional while working with trusted economic and financial experts to calculate your losses.
Proving Premises Liability
Slip and fall accident lawsuits fall under the category of premises liability lawsuits. To obtain compensation, you will need to prove that the defendant is liable for your injuries. Doing so will come down to whether there was a dangerous condition on the property that the property owner knew about or should have known about. If you can show that a reasonable property owner would have discovered and fixed the dangerous condition before anyone could become injured, you can succeed in a personal injury lawsuit.
A dangerous condition has to present an unreasonable risk of harm to those on the property. It must be a condition that a reasonable person would not have expected, such as an obvious avoidable hazard. An example would be broken stairs in a movie theater. When customers to send to their seats in dark lighting, they would expect to avoid a broken stop that could cause them to fall.
How Much is My Case Worth?
Your case’s value depends on several factors, including the severity of your injuries. Generally, the more severe and life-altering a plaintiff’s injuries, the more compensation they can obtain. Plaintiffs can pursue economic damages for their current and future medical expenses, loss of future income, and more. Additionally, plaintiffs can pursue non-economic damages for the pain and suffering they have endured from their injuries.
Schedule a Complimentary Consultation With a Lynchburg Slip and Fall Attorney
Were you or your loved one seriously injured in a slip-and-fall accident and Lynchburg or the surrounding area? The sooner you reach out to an attorney, the better your likelihood of obtaining compensation for your injuries.
The attorneys at Straw Law Firm know how to use our resources to thoroughly investigate slip-and-fall accidents, negotiate aggressively, and pursue the full compensation our clients deserve. You only have a limited amount of time to pursue compensation for your injuries, and the sooner you reach out to an attorney, the better. Contact the Lynchburg personal injury attorneys at Straw Law Firm today to schedule your free case evaluation and learn more about your legal rights.
