Slip And Fall Lawyer (2024)

A slip-and-fall can easily change your life — and not in a good way. Within seconds, you can be left with fractures, head injuries, sprains, or worse.

These injuries can often be permanently disabling, leading to wage loss, emotional distress, and a lifetime of medical issues. A fall can prevent you from enjoying many of life’s most precious moments.

While falls may seem accidental, negligence could be to blame. A slip-and-fall lawyer can help you determine whether a property owner caused your injuries, and this may lead to a slip-and-fall lawsuit.

You may be able to pursue compensation for a serious fall. And ConsumerShield can help you find an attorney who can help you do that. We fight for victims' rights by providing helpful resources, education, and connections to experienced attorneys. Reach out today to get started.

Can a Lawyer Actually Help with My Slip-and-fall Claim?

Proving Negligence

In a slip-and-fall case, the initial step in establishing negligence is confirming that the defendant had a duty of care towards the plaintiff.

Next, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant failed to uphold their legal responsibility. In essence, a breach of duty occurs when the defendant does not act with the reasonable care expected in fulfilling their obligation.

The third element of a negligence claim is causation, which breaks down into two distinct parts: actual causation and proximate causation. Actual causation applies a straightforward test: had it not been for the defendant's actions, the injury to the plaintiff would not have taken place.

Proximate causation, on the other hand, deals with the extent of the defendant's liability. This hinges on whether the defendant could have reasonably anticipated the harm to the plaintiff.

Lastly, the plaintiff must show damages, which involves proving a legally recognized injury or loss, typically in the form of physical harm or damage to property. The injury or loss must be a direct result of the defendant's breach of duty for the negligence claim to prevail.

Types of Slip-and-Fall Injuries

Defendants in slip-and-fall cases are typically a property owner or business, and they may contribute to falls in various ways.

Spills

Property owners often fail to clean up spills, causing people to fall. Examples include spilled milk cartons in grocery stores, oil puddles at gas stations, and leaking machinery.

Your slip-and-fall lawyer may examine the cause and nature of the spill as they seek compensation on your behalf. To determine fault, they may establish when the spill appeared, whether staff became aware of it and any steps taken to address it.

Debris

Debris can cause people to lose their footing. Debris that commonly leads to slip-and-fall accidents includes ball bearings, fruits like banana peels, and toys. For example, you might have stumbled on nails scattered across the floor of a hardware store.

Property owners and businesses have a legal responsibility to keep walking areas free from hazards, and your slip-and-fall lawyer may be able to hold them accountable if they fail in this regard.

Insufficient Lighting

Insufficient lighting increases the risk of serious falls.

You might have stumbled while attempting to navigate a dimly lit hallway. Perhaps you lost your footing while walking to your car at night in a parking lot without proper lighting.

These situations can lead to slip-and-fall lawsuits.

Building Code Violations

The Uniform Building Code (UBC) helps prevent slips and falls. And property owners must carefully follow these rules.

If a building code violation caused your fall, you may have the opportunity to pursue legal action against the property owner. For example, you might have tumbled down a set of stairs with excessively narrow steps. Perhaps you stumbled because there were no handrails.

Countless building code violations can lead to slip-and-fall lawsuits. And many can lead to compensation for the victim.

Icy or Snowy Walking Areas

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that snow and ice cause 1 million falls each year. Property owners are required to clear away snow and ice from driveways, sidewalks, and any other public walking areas.

Can Slip-and-fall Accident Lawyers Help Me Access Treatment?

Slip-and-fall lawyers can help plaintiffs access effective, fair treatment after their accidents.
Many falls are life-altering and permanently disabling — especially for seniors. Fractured hips can leave seniors bedridden or confined to wheelchairs for the rest of their days.

These accidents also force many seniors into nursing homes and out of the comfort of their own homes. Seniors are more vulnerable to a range of fall-related fractures due to brittle, low-density bones, and they are more likely to suffer fatal complications such as infections.

Medical treatment is more expensive than ever, with prices often inflating more than 1 percent over a single month. The Peter G. Peterson Foundation equates higher costs with new technology and procedures.

Costs may prove insurmountable for fall victims who lack coverage, and even those with comprehensive insurance may face overwhelming medical bills.

Slip-and-fall lawyers can help fall victims access treatment by pursuing compensation for medical bills.

After accidents, plaintiffs work with both their lawyers and healthcare providers to determine the true cost of their injuries. Often, the need for ongoing treatment only becomes clear after the patient reaches their Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI).

Slip-and-fall lawyers can advise plaintiffs to refuse early settlement offers that are too low to cover the long-term costs of fall-related injuries.

Contact ConsumerShield Today

If you’re ready to take the next step, ConsumerShield can connect you with experienced slip-and-fall lawyers in your area. Contact ConsumerShield today to take your first steps toward justice and compensation for your slip-and-fall.