Slip and Fall Accident Attorney in Lee's Summit
“Slip and fall” is a catchall term that’s used to describe all cases falling under premise liability. However, slip and fall accidents do account for the lion’s share of premise liability cases. When you think of someone slipping and falling in a retail establishment, in a restaurant, or on the sidewalk, you might imagine that they just get up, straighten up their clothing and continue on their way. However, the reality is that a large percentage of those people end up in the emergency room every year due to having been injured in a slip and fall accident.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
When it comes to civil cases, the most common contributing factor to slip and fall accidents and their accompanying injuries is negligence on the part of a business custodian or their employees in taking care of issues on the floor in a timely manner. This could mean not identifying and cleaning up spills or failing to warn the public of a slippery condition. Read on to find the most common causes of slip and fall accidents.
Wet Floor
It is not uncommon for a retail store or restaurant to have wet floors. This can be due to the floors having just been mopped, because a guest spilled a drink, because there is a leaky pipe nearby, etc. If the floors cannot be dried up immediately, warning signs should be placed accordingly to prevent people from slipping and falling.
Uneven Floors
Floors may be uneven because a foundation has settled, they are in a state of disrepair, there are different flooring materials such as wood in one section and carpeting next to it. A floor could also just be a piece of carpeting that has the tendency to flip up on the end. As above, it is up to the owner or manager to let people know of a difference in flooring to avoid an accident.
Objects on the Floor
Store employees may be unpacking and shelving merchandise; they may be fixing an issue that requires them to run an electrical cord across a hallway, or they may just be cleaning in the area. The reasons are many why objects might be left in places where people walk. As soon as the owner, manager, or employee notices there is something in a customer’s path, it should be removed. The longer it stays, the easier it is to prove negligence if that object led to an injury-causing accident.
Warning signs should always be placed conspicuously so they can warn clients and customers of hazards like poor lighting, broken railings, or anything else that may cause someone to stumble, trip, or fall. Our team of slip and fall accident attorneys in Lee’s Summit MO is standing by to help you with your slip and fall case.
What are the main injuries caused by slip and fall accidents?
If you sustained an injury due to a slip and fall, your Slip and Fall Accident Attorney in Lee’s Summit Missouri can help you get compensation due to:
- Neck and spinal injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Injuries to your back or hips
- Contusions
- Broken bones
What damages can you recover if you suffered a slip and fall injury?
At Lourenco & Linville, P. C., your Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer in Lee’s Summit MO will work with you to determine the amount you may receive in compensatory damages for your slip and fall. The main items that may be included are:
- Your medical bills, including future medical expenses for ongoing treatment
- Earnings lost now and in the future, should you be unable to return to work
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Emotional distress
Your Lourenco & Linville Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer in Lee’s Summit will explain to you that the amount you may receive in compensation will be determined by the severity of your injury since the worse injuries tend to receive the highest damages awards.
What must you be able to prove in slip and fall cases in order to have a successful claim?
Your Lourenco & Linville, P.C. attorney must prove liability in order to win your case. To achieve this, four legal elements will have to be present:
Duty – The owner must act a certain way towards their customers, and has a duty to take reasonable care of them.
Breach – If the owner was aware of an unsafe condition, created the condition, or did nothing to correct it, they incur a breach.
Causation – Whatever was on the floor that caused your fall and should not have been there.
Damages – The monetary value of the injuries you sustained.
Your accident attorney at Lourenco & Linville, P. C. will work with you to build a strong case and help you get the results you deserve. Make an appointment today and get started on your case.