Slip and fall accidents are much more common than the average person would think and are often the responsibility of the property owner. As a property owner, you have a specific duty to protect all guests on your property, even uninvited trespassers in limited circumstances. If you have been injured on someone else’s property as the result of a slip and fall accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Slip and fall refers to an accident in which a person slips, trips, or falls and subsequently injures themselves due to a hazard on another person’s property. This can occur in private residences, grocery stores, hotels, malls, or any other type or business. Typical hazards include:
Slip and falls can have very serious consequences to the injured person, especially if they are more susceptible to injuries than the average person. For example, an elderly person who slips on the unmarked water in a grocery store can have permanent damage as a result of the fall.
Slip and fall accidents play a big role in most business safety procedures as property owners are required to ensure the safety of any guests on their property, including customers. The theory of premises liability most accurately defines the responsibility of a property owner to any guests or even trespassers on their property. As an invitee, or a customer, the property owner has the duty to warn or protect you from a condition on the property if the risk of harm is unreasonable and the property owner is aware of the harm. As a licensee, or house guest, the property owner must warn of any danger that they should have known about, failed to warn the licensee about, and the licensee was not aware of the danger. Finally, while a trespasser enters a property owner’s land without their permission, the property owner still has a duty to warn of any hidden dangers if they are aware trespassers frequent their property.
Slip and fall accidents can lead to the following injuries:
Many of these injuries can be quite severe and often require extensive hospital stays. As the victim of a slip and fall injury, you are entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, any further rehabilitation, lost wages, future earnings, and pain and suffering. You should not be forced to cover medical expenses and subsequent rehabilitation due to another person’s negligent behavior. A personal injury attorney will be able to guide you into drafting a claim for your injuries.
If you or a loved one have been the victim of a slip and fall accident, do not hesitate to contact the attorneys of Wettermark & Keith. Our attorneys have over 30 years of experience in recovering damages for our clients. Our firm is very client-oriented and we always put the needs of our clients first. Do not wait any longer to bring your claim, as the limitations period begins ticking the day of the injury. Contact our Montgomery office today for your initial free consultation.
