Loose and broken floorboards should be repaired promptly. If a visitor to a restaurant, store, or other property falls and suffers injuries due to a hazardous condition such as loose floorboards, they may be able to sue a property owner or other at-fault party and recover compensation.
A Clearwater loose floorboards slip and fall lawyer may be able to help you if you got hurt in a slip and fall due to a property owner’s negligence. In the first instance, you can call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine for a free, no-obligation consultation with a team member. Find out today whether you could initiate legal action against a property owner. Dial 1-800-747-3733.
Injuries in Slip and Fall Accidents
While some individuals who slip and fall walk away with a few scratches or bruises, others face serious and even deadly consequences after a bad fall. Injuries can potentially be disabling and painful. They can also place much stress on an accident victim’s household budget with medical bills mounting and time off work during recovery. Injuries suffered in falls can include:
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Hip and pelvic fractures
- Back and neck injuries
- Broken bones
- Knee damage
- Cuts and bruises
- Shoulder dislocations
- Arm and wrist fractures
If you suffered from serious and perhaps disabling injuries after a fall, you may have incurred astronomical costs due to medical treatments, hospital stays, and lost income. Annual costs for hip fractures alone are around $9.2 billion in the U.S., according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
A Clearwater loose floorboards slip and fall lawyer may be able to help you seek your due. Speak to the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today for help and advice by dialing 1-800-747-3733.
Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Loose floorboards are just one reason why a slip and fall accident claim can arise. There can be many other causes potentially resulting in a personal injury lawsuit. You could also have a claim if you or a loved one suffered a fall due to:
- Oily or wet floors
- Food or drink spillages
- Broken steps
- Uneven steps
- Broken or cracked flooring
- Obstructions such as cables on the floor
- Cluttered walking surfaces
- Insufficient lighting
- Loose rugs or mats
- Missing handrails
Slip and falls can potentially happen in many different places that we visit on a daily basis, including grocery stores, restaurants, apartment complexes, parking garages, and workplaces, to name just a few.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident due to a hazardous condition, you could potentially hold a property owner responsible whether the accident happened on private, public, commercial, or residential property. A property owner or representative is required to ensure that a property is adequately maintained and there are no hazardous or dangerous conditions that could potentially harm any visitors.
Damages in Slip and Fall Accidents
If you got hurt due to the negligence of a property owner, you generally have the right to pursue justice and compensation. Damages that might be available to you can include economic and non-economic compensation. While the exact amount of compensation that you could receive heavily depends on your circumstances and the severity of any injuries, compensation can include:
- Past, present, and future medical treatment costs
- Loss of income and any future loss of wages
- Costs for mobility devices such as wheelchairs and crutches
- A home health aide or housekeeper
- Emotional distress
- Physical pain and anguish
- Inconvenience
- Loss of life-enjoyment
- Loss of consortium
- Disability
If a loved one died due to a slip and fall, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim, and in addition to some of the above-mentioned damages, you could also recover:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of guardianship for children
- Loss of income and benefits from the deceased
- Pain and anguish
Depending on the details of your slip and fall accident, you could recover other or additional damages. A slip and fall lawyer will be able to advise you accordingly. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine at 1-800-747-3733.
Steps You Can Take After Your Slip and Fall
If you suffered harm in a slip and fall, there are some steps you can take immediately and within the next few days after an accident that can help to protect your rights. It is crucial that you protect yourself, especially if you intend to hold a property owner to account for your injuries and financial losses.
Seeing a Doctor
Your first step should always be to seek medical attention as soon as possible after an accident, even if you are only experiencing mild symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, serious head injuries such as traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can have a delayed onset, and symptoms may not be apparent for days or even weeks after a fall. Consider also that a medical report detailing all your injuries will serve as excellent evidence proving your damages in court.
Reporting the Accident
Having all the details of your accident in writing can be advantageous for your claim. If you are able to, you should try to report the accident immediately after. Try to contact the property owner or a representative and ask if you can fill in a written report. Take a copy of the report home.
Gathering Evidence
If there are any eyewitnesses to your slip and fall accident, you should ask them for contact details and a statement, if possible. Evidence you collected from the scene can help your claim, particularly any photographs of the accident scene and your injuries.
Consider a Slip and Fall Lawyer
When it comes to corresponding with the at-fault party’s insurance, for example, you will need to be careful. If you want to pay it safe, let a Clearwater loose floorboards slip and fall lawyer handle any conversation with the other party’s insurance. A lawyer knows how to protect your rights and negotiate for a fair settlement. If you try to go it alone and agree to an out-of-court settlement that turns out to be too low, you may be out of pocket as well as prohibited from taking further legal action.
Contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine now for a free case review by dialing 1-800-747-3733.
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