Blog / News
Why a Slip and Fall is No Joke
When most people think about slipping and falling, they think about silly accidents that can be easily laughed off, or pratfalls in comedies. At worst, they may get concerned about the elderly or people with certain medical conditions falling. However, slipping and falling can cause severe injuries to people of any age or health, and if you are injured, you may be entitled to compensation as a result.
A "slip and fall" case is exactly what it sounds like: someone is going about their business somewhere, there's a spot on the floor that's slippery or otherwise treacherous to cross, and that person slips or trips and falls, injuring themselves. It is one of the most common kinds of injuries, accounting for more than one million emergency room visits every year in the United States, and it is a consistent source of lawsuits. And while falls are more of a concern among the elderly, with 67% of all deaths from falling occurring among those 75 or older, even those of working age should be concerned, with a full 85% of worker's compensation claims being attributed to falls on slippery floors.
The question of whether you might be able to recover from a slip and fall depends heavily on the circumstances behind your fall. There are many questions that need to be asked, such as: what did the owner of the place where you fell do to try and avert possible danger? Did they take reasonable steps to remove or warn of danger, or were they careless? Did you do anything that might've contributed to your own injury, or might there have been some other external cause behind your fall?
For example, if you're at the supermarket and slip on spilled food or drink of some kind, it matters how long the spill was there. If it was there for only a couple of minutes and the employees simply hadn't gotten around to cleaning it up, it might be harder to prove they owe you for their negligence than if it were around for an hour. Similarly, if you were walking along at a normal pace when you fell, it'd be easier to get compensation than if you were running at top speed.
A "slip and fall" case is exactly what it sounds like: someone is going about their business somewhere, there's a spot on the floor that's slippery or otherwise treacherous to cross, and that person slips or trips and falls, injuring themselves. It is one of the most common kinds of injuries, accounting for more than one million emergency room visits every year in the United States, and it is a consistent source of lawsuits. And while falls are more of a concern among the elderly, with 67% of all deaths from falling occurring among those 75 or older, even those of working age should be concerned, with a full 85% of worker's compensation claims being attributed to falls on slippery floors.
The question of whether you might be able to recover from a slip and fall depends heavily on the circumstances behind your fall. There are many questions that need to be asked, such as: what did the owner of the place where you fell do to try and avert possible danger? Did they take reasonable steps to remove or warn of danger, or were they careless? Did you do anything that might've contributed to your own injury, or might there have been some other external cause behind your fall?
For example, if you're at the supermarket and slip on spilled food or drink of some kind, it matters how long the spill was there. If it was there for only a couple of minutes and the employees simply hadn't gotten around to cleaning it up, it might be harder to prove they owe you for their negligence than if it were around for an hour. Similarly, if you were walking along at a normal pace when you fell, it'd be easier to get compensation than if you were running at top speed.
If you or someone you love has suffered an injury as a result of a slip and fall, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney that will fight for your rights. The personal injury attorneys at Georgaklis & Mallas, PLLC will vigorously represent you and fight for the compensation you and your family deserve.
Stay Informed
When you subscribe to the blog, we will send you an e-mail when there are new updates on the site so you wouldn't miss them.