An accident in which a person trips and falls can occur in an instant, but the consequences can remain for a long time, and sometimes, even a lifetime. When a person suffers an injury from a trip and fall, it can in some cases, lead to a lot of medical expenses, time away from work, and emotional stress that could and should have been avoided.
Victims of these types of accidents may have a basis for a lawsuit, and the legal help they can get from a trip and fall attorney can make all the difference in winning their case. Here are some of the things these legal specialists in accidents can offer their clients:
Understanding Trip and Fall Cases
Cases involving trips and falls are a subset of the larger field of premises liability. These accidents typically happen when an owner or occupier of a property does not maintain it in a condition that a reasonable person would consider safe.
A typical trip and fall scenario would be something like a sidewalk that is not uniform in its surface or level, but there are many other potential trip and fall situations (steps or stairs, uneven or damaged flooring or concrete, loose or broken materials, etc).
Winning a case requires showing not only that the property owner’s condition was unsafe but also that the unsafe condition was directly responsible for the injuries sustained. Proving negligence is not always simple.
Property owners frequently contend that they did not know about the danger, that they took reasonable measures to remedy it, or that the person who fell was just not being careful enough. This is where a trip and fall lawyer’s expertise is invaluable.
Investigating the Accident
A trip and fall attorney conducts a thorough probe of the accident. They collect evidence in the form of photographs of the hazard, surveillance video, and witness statements. A good lawyer knows what to look for and what to ask to get the kinds of answers that build the story of the accident – ERA (Event, Response, and Aftermath), in a way that shows the property owner was negligent.
Calculating the Full Value of Your Claim
Another important job for your accident lawyer is to figure out the total amount of damages you are owed. When it comes to compensation in these kinds of cases, it isn’t just your medical-related expenses and lost wages that they’re looking at.
They also have to take into consideration your pain and suffering, emotional distress, and your now-questionable quality of life. They’re looking at full accountability for your economic and non-economic losses. And they’re not just looking at it; they’re ensuring it happens.
Getting the Right Trip and Fall Attorney on Your Case
Your life can take a massive detour due to a trip-and-fall accident, but you don’t have to fight go through that detour alone. An attorney with the right experience can show you the path through your legal troubles and help you come out on the other side with the right compensation to set your life back in the right direction.
They take on the hard work for you – proving the necessary negligence, securing the appropriate amount of damages, and holding the property owner accountable. After all, your injuries deserve to be recognized as significant and your settlement should reflect the severity of the suffering you have endured.
