Imagine: you’re walking along on your way to work when suddenly you’re on the ground, in excruciating pain. You can’t move, and those around you are calling emergency services. You wonder how such a blissful stroll suddenly turned so terrible. You couldn’t even get to work that day–how will you pay for the ambulance ride?
Later, you learn there were no signs indicating that the sidewalk had buckled, causing you to slip in a deep puddle hidden between the broken concrete.
Compared to car and truck accidents, slip and falls seem like a less extreme personal injury. However, these accidents can cause significant, life-changing harm, and even death. In fact, according to the National Safety Council (NSC), 39,443 individuals died from falls in 2019.
So, what should you do if you or a loved one suffered injuries from a slip and fall accident? Call the Las Vegas injury attorneys at Lerner and Rowe today at (702) 877-1500 for a free consultation. You may be able to seek compensation through a slip and fall injury claim. Our team of legal representatives will be able to assist you 24/7 for help when you need us the most. Get the compensation you deserve, and start the process today.
What Is a Slip and Fall?
A slip and fall is an accident where an individual slips, falls, and sustains some kind of injury. Slip and falls can take place almost anywhere, from public sidewalks to private homes. If the accident happened due to another party’s negligent actions, a slip and fall can be a type of personal injury case. The outcome of such a case aims to help the victim return to the lifestyle they had before their accident.
What Is Premises Liability?
In order to build an effective slip and fall injury claim, your attorney must prove the negligence of another party. For instance, property owners must keep their properties reasonably safe for others at all times. If they fail to fix a broken stair, hang a warning sign, or mop a wet floor that leads to someone getting hurt, the owner may be liable for the injuries.
Large and small businesses, personal properties, the city, landlords, and manufacturers can all potentially be held liable, depending on the circumstances.
Is Settling a Slip and Fall Case Complicated?
Distinguishing which factors indicate negligence can be complex. That’s why it’s important to have a Las Vegas slip and fall attorney on your side, as proving the causal link between a property owner and an injury may be difficult.
Furthermore, the owner and/or their insurance company may fight the claim’s demands from the injured party. An attorney at Lerner and Rowe will assist you by aggressively standing up for what you deserve, as well as fighting for maximum compensation.
What Are Some Common Slip and Fall Injuries?
Slip and fall injuries range from minor to life-altering. Some common slip and fall injuries are:
- Bone fractures in the hip, hands, ankles, feet, and wrists
- Broken bones, which are more common if the individual is older
- Shoulder injuries, sometimes caused as the individual attempts to stop their fall
- Ligament sprains and tears
- Back or spinal injuries
- Head injuries, ranging from minor concussions to traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Regardless of severity, any injury may lead to current and future medical costs, lost wages, or additional emotional and psychological pain. Slip and fall lawsuit settlements can help families with these costs and keep their quality of life closer to what it was before the slip and fall accident.
How Do I Prove I Didn’t Cause My Own Injury?
With an experienced Las Vegas slip and fall lawyer on your side, you won’t have to prove much by yourself. Your lawyer will assist you when it comes to proving what happened to an insurance company or judge.
However, you can do your part by collecting important evidence that supports your claim. Any doctor notes, bills, or references may be helpful. If possible, take pictures at the location of the slip and fall to show damages, lack of signage, or other conditions that may help your case. Collect any testimony from eyewitnesses that you can. Your attorney may be able to access video surveillance of the area in which you were hurt, which can be monumental in determining negligence.
What Happens if I Partially Caused My Own Injury?
In some cases, it may be determined that while another party is mostly responsible for your injuries, you could have done something to avoid being injured as well. In this case, it is best to have a slip and fall attorney to argue for maximum compensation. You may still receive a certain amount of money, but not as much as if you were not found liable at all.
How Are Slip and Fall Settlements Determined?
The average amount to expect from slip and fall compensation typically falls between $15,000 and $45,000. However, this amount may change if the injuries are very minor, or very severe. For instance, a claim for a fractured wrist only will probably not win as much as a slip and fall that caused a massive concussion that led to a coma and an extensive hospital stay.
How slip and fall settlements are determined depends on the amount of damages you suffered. In other words, the more damages your attorney can prove, the more compensation you may win.
The first is economic damages. Loss of future earning capacity, medical bills, ambulance ride costs, and lost wages fall into this category. These costs can be proven by collecting artifacts like statements and pay stubs.
Non-economic damages are more difficult to prove. These take into account your pain and suffering, humiliation, or harm to reputation. It can even cover loss of enjoyment in an activity you no longer can partake in due to your injuries. Since this amount is not clear, and difficult to put a price on, an attorney can help determine the optimal amount to demand.
Punitive damages are even more complex and are not available on all claims. More specifically, these types of damages are often used as a deterrent to keep a person from repeating the same negligent behavior in the future. Once your attorney is able to look at all the available evidence, they will be able to determine if you may also be eligible to seek additional compensation for punitive damages.
Can a Personal Injury Attorney Negotiate My Slip and Fall Settlement?
Yes. Often, when a demand for compensation is filed with an insurance company, the company will return with a lower offer than expected. They do this to see if you know what your case is worth, and to see if you will settle for a lower amount than you are owed. A personal injury attorney can help stand up for you and your family by responding with another counter offer until an amount is agreed upon.
Do Slip and Fall Settlements Go to Court?
Settling a slip and fall case usually does not require a courtroom. However, sometimes a claim cannot be settled without this step. The slip and fall injury attorneys at Lerner and Rowe want to represent your interests should this situation arise. Furthermore, the most valuable non-legal service we offer is to help lift the emotional burden of a slip and fall claim off of your shoulders. So, instead of wasting emotional energy that could be focused on recovery, call us any time of the day or night at (702) 877-1500. A knowledgeable legal representative will listen to your case and let you know the next steps you need to follow.
How Long Does a Slip and Fall Settlement Take to Conclude?
Slip and fall lawsuit settlements can take as little time as a few months. However, depending on the complexity of the case, a slip and fall injury claim can take up to a few years.
If you are concerned about how long a slip and fall settlement takes, start the process quickly. The sooner you start the process, the closer you are to winning slip and fall compensation. In addition, the Nevada statute of limitations dictates that you only have two years from the date of your accident to file your claim.
Don’t lose additional precious time paying for bills from your accident that may be compensated. Instead, choose to work with a Las Vegas slip and fall injury attorney at Lerner and Rowe.
How Do I Contact the Attorneys at Lerner and Rowe?
If you’d like to talk immediately online with a legal representative, use our LiveChat feature. Also, you can fill out an online form to connect. Or, call (702) 877-1500. These services are available every day of the year at any time of day. Want to speak with someone in person? You can also visit our physical locations in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas.
Don’t let you or a loved one continue to suffer from unforeseen costs caused by another’s negligence. Instead, seek maximum slip and fall compensation, and reach out to Lerner and Rowe today.