Waco Slip Fall Lawyer
At The Patel Firm, the Waco Slip and Fall Lawyers consistently stand beside individuals who have sustained injuries in slip and fall accidents due to the inattention of others. These committed attorneys work non-stop to ensure victims secure the just recompense they warrant for their injuries.
Table of Contents
- Potential Slip and Fall Injuries
- Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
- A Waco Slip and Fall Lawyer Can Determine Liability for Your Injuries
- What Insurance Covers Slip and Fall Damages?
- Reach Out to Our Waco Slip and Fall Lawyers for Assistance Today
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 20 percent of fall victims suffer severe injuries like broken bones or head injuries. In 2015, the total medical expenses for falls exceeded $50 billion. The financial, physical, and emotional costs of a slip and fall accident are high. When a slip and fall results from the negligent actions of another person or party, the injured individual is entitled to monetary damages under Texas personal injury laws. A skilled Waco slip and fall lawyer from The Patel Firm can help you pursue compensation for your injuries.
Injured individuals and health insurance companies must pay the medical bills after a slip and fall accident. But what if your injuries were preventable? What if they happened because someone else was negligent? In other words, what if another person or party acted carelessly or failed to take certain reasonable precautions, which led to your injuries? The simple answer is that they should be responsible for paying for your damages.
Potential Slip and Fall Injuries
All fall accidents have the potential to cause injuries, both minor and significant. Some fall victims might experience minor bruising, cuts, or scratches, while others can sustain injuries that require ongoing medical attention.
Broken Bones
Falls can cause nearly any bone in the body to break. Bone fractures can be simple and heal with only four to six weeks in a cast. However, they can also be severe, requiring surgery, the implantation of plates or screws, and months of physical therapy.
The most common areas for broken bones after a fall include:
- Hips and pelvis
- Ankles
- Wrists and elbows
- Ribs and collarbones (clavicle)
- Neck, back, and tailbones
Sprains and Strains
Sprains and strains commonly occur in the wrist, ankle, and shoulder. A sprain stretches or tears a ligament. A strain stretches or tears a muscle or tendon. Both can be painful and limit mobility for several weeks.
Sprains and strains can occur in many different body areas and are among the most frequent fall injury types. Sometimes, they require more time than broken bones to heal.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
One of the most serious and potentially long-term injuries a fall victim might suffer is a TBI. If someone hits their head or the head otherwise undergoes severe force, a TBI can occur.
Individuals with a TBI can have:
- Headaches
- Seizures
- Permanent brain damage
- Confusion
- Difficulty focusing
- Memory loss
- Personality changes
Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
Broken or dislocated bones of the neck or back can cause the spinal cord to bruise, swell, tear or even sever. SCIs have the potential to cause severe and permanent injuries. Falls that are especially forceful or those where the victim twists or doesn’t land on a flat surface have a higher risk of ending in an SCI.
The spinal cord is a pathway for the brain and the rest of the body to communicate. Damages to this pathway can lead to several problems. SCIs can also cause long-term disabilities or even death.
Psychological Injuries
Falls are frightening and can even leave psychological injuries in their wake. Young children and elderly fall victims are particularly at risk of developing a fear of falling and nightmares after a fall. Some will even develop PTSD if their slip and fall accident was highly traumatic.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip, and falls can occur nearly anywhere; a grocery store, a neighbor’s home, a school, or even in government-owned properties. Every slip and fall case is unique, but most arise from a handful of different causes.
Any circumstance that creates a wet walking surface or one with slippery or even has dry debris increases the chance of a slip and fall. These conditions inhibit the traction of the shoe or foot.
Slip and fall accidents typically occur because someone’s shoes fail to grip the walking surface, resulting in traction loss. Without traction, their feet come out from under them, causing a fall.
Weather Conditions
Poor weather conditions can also result in slip and fall injuries. Outdoor walkways or parking lots that are icy or snowy or moisture on indoor floors from the outdoors cause hazardous conditions.
All property owners should do what they can to reduce the chances of slip and fall accidents, no matter the weather conditions outside. During wintery weather conditions, they must take specific actions to prevent falls.
Prevention includes:
- Plowing the streets
- Putting salt on walkways and steps
- Shoveling sidewalks
- Cleaning of entryway floors frequently
- Placing absorbent rugs on entryway floors
Without the proper precautions in place, they might be financially responsible for the victim’s damages. Many slip and fall injury victims file claims for compensation due to this type of negligence.
Wet Floors
Property owners should ensure their floors are dry. They should be aware of the possibility that their floors could get wet. Suppose they can’t remedy a wet floor right away. In that case, property owners should warn others in the area about the potential hazard. For example, if an employee is mopping the floor, they need to place a visible wet floor sign in the area.
Wet floors are usually the result of:
- Spilled liquids or foods
- Melted slush, snow, or ice in entryways and exits
- Floors that were recently cleaned or waxed
- Roofing leaks
Debris on the Floor
Dry debris can also cause people to slip and fall. If certain substances are on the floor or ground, interfering with traction between the surface and the shoe, the risk of a fall increases substantially.
Debris that might cause slip and falls include:
- Produce such as tomatoes, grapes, or bananas
- Kitty litter
- Dirt or sand
- Marbles
- Pine needles
- Leaves
- Nuts and some candy
Property owners must take every precaution to prevent and clean up debris that can potentially cause slips and falls. If someone reports debris on the floor, it’s their responsibility to act within a reasonable amount of time to keep visitors safe.
A Waco Slip and Fall Lawyer Can Determine Liability for Your Injuries
Your Waco slip and fall attorney will perform a comprehensive investigation to find out what led up to your accident. Once the investigation is complete, your lawyer should be able to determine who is at fault for your injuries. Generally, the person who is liable was negligent—meaning that they did or didn’t do something that a prudent person would or wouldn’t have done in a similar situation. For example, if a hair salon employee witnesses shampoo being spilled on the floor but doesn’t do anything about it, they are negligent. A prudent person would have told someone, cleaned it up themselves, or posted signage to ensure others stayed away from the slipping hazard.
You won’t have a viable claim unless you can prove the property owner, occupant, or agent was negligent in causing your injuries. You must be able to demonstrate:
- A hazard existed on the property
- The property owner knew or should have reasonably known about the hazard
- You were on the property legally
- The hazard caused your injuries
- You suffered damages as a direct result of the property owner’s negligence
What Insurance Covers Slip and Fall Damages?
Slip and fall victims have a legal right to compensation for their damages. The source of payment varies depending on where the accident occurred.
Slip and Falls at a Private Residence
Most private property owners have homeowners insurance or something similar, especially if they are still paying a mortgage. If you are injured on their property, you should be able to file a claim against their policy. However, some homeowners are reluctant to tell injured individuals that they have insurance because they don’t want to deal with the hassle or have their premiums go up. However, your Waco slip and fall attorney can use the court to compel them to provide this type of information.
Slip and Falls on Business Property
Most businesses have commercial property insurance. It’s similar to a homeowners insurance policy, but it typically has notably higher coverage limits. Commercial property insurance policies cover nearly all accidents at a business when negligence was a factor, including slip and fall accidents.
Negligence can be a factor if:
- Employees don’t clean spills and drips promptly
- Snow and ice aren’t cleared off walkways and parking lots within a reasonable amount of time, and appropriate salt, sand, or other treatments to prevent falls aren’t applied
- Walkways aren’t kept in good repair or have uneven surfaces, holes, or cracks
- Parking lot surfaces aren’t adequately maintained to avoid cracks and potholes
- There are physical obstacles present such as loose cords
- Other hazards exist, such as sharp edges on shelves and racks or improperly stacked merchandise
- Doors prevent easy customer movement in and out of the business, especially for customers with assistive devices like walkers, wheelchairs, or baby strollers
Liability insurance gives businesses protection from slip and fall claims and lawsuits. However, insurance companies don’t routinely issue a check every time there’s an injury on the premises. You need help from an experienced Waco slip and fall lawyer to help you get the compensation you deserve from the insurance company.
Suppose customers, vendors, contractors, or subcontractors caused your slip and fall accident. In that case, there could be more sources of compensation through each third party. Under some circumstances, the applicable commercial property insurance will also provide coverage. Your Waco slip and fall attorney will do all they can to maximize your compensation, including identifying all potentially liable parties.
Reach Out to Our Waco Slip and Fall Lawyers for Assistance Today
Many slip and fall victims don’t have the financial resources to get the medical care and treatment they need on their own. Who pays for these expenses when the slip and fall was a result of someone else’s negligence? It shouldn’t have to be the injured individual who didn’t do anything to deserve their injuries.
A well-versed Waco slip and fall attorney can boost your compensation and bear the burden of pursuing litigation so that you can focus on healing from your injuries. The sooner you hire them, the sooner you can relax and recover, and the better the chances you will get the compensation you deserve. Call 361-400-2036 or contact us online today to schedule a case review with an experienced Waco slip and fall attorney from The Patel Firm.
The Patel Firm Injury Accident Lawyers
Waco, TX
(254) 312-2386
“This is my first time ever using a lawyer to help me process an accident claim. Joanne walked me through every step of the way. No matter when I reached out to ask my lawyer a question I got a very quick response. This was done during the COVID-19 shut down which made it extra difficult but the lawyerAnd his staff kept me informed. I am grateful that he kept his word in every way to me. I would recommend them highly to anyone I know.”
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lloyd Zeigler
September 2020
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