4 Things You Need to Know About Slip and Fall Accidents
The National Floor Safety Institute estimates that there are nearly 8 million emergency room visits each year due to slip and fall accidents. These accidents can have a variety of different causes like:
- Wet floors
- Uneven flooring
- Poorly maintained sidewalks or other common areas
- Damaged stairways
- Unsafe construction areas
- Faulty handrails
- Low lighting in high traffic areas
By getting to know the cause of slip and fall accidents, you can better protect yourself from them. If you are involved in an accident like this, there are a few things you need to know.
1. Business Owners Have an Obligation to Keep Their Property Safe
Most people fail to realize that property owners have an obligation to the public when it comes to keeping their property free of slip and fall hazards. If a property owner sees a hazard and fails to address, they will be responsible for any injuries that occur. So what does this mean for you? When you are injured in a slip and fall accident due to the negligence of a business owner, you can hold them liable for the pain and suffering you experience.
2. Senior Citizens Are The Most Effected By Slip and Fall Accidents
Nearly 22% of all emergency room visits each year are due to slip and fall accidents. Senior citizens are one of the most common victims of these types of accidents. As a person ages, their bones will become brittle and more susceptible to breaking. Broken hips and backs are some of the most serious injuries a senior citizen can have following this type of accident.
If you are a senior citizen, you need to work hard to avoid areas that pose the most risk for slip and fall accidents. The injuries that can result from these types of accidents can leave you immobile and will reduce the level of independence you are able to enjoy.
3. Silence is Golden Following This Type of Accident
When involved in a slip and fall accident, you need to avoid making any statements regarding who you believe is at fault without your attorney present. Generally, you will receive a visit from the insurance company representing the business where you fell. While you may feel obligated to answer their questions, you are under no legal obligation to do so. Working with a legal professionals is the best way to make an accurate and incriminating statement to the insurance company in question.
4. Work to Preserve the Evidence
One of the main concerns you should have following a slip and fall accident is preserving the evidence you have. The first things you need to preserve are the shoes and clothing you were wearing when you fell. By doing this, you will be able to prove that the items you were wearing in no way attributed to the fall itself. Making an effort to preserve these items can help you greatly should you go to trial regarding the accident you were involved in.
Do You Need Legal Help?
Have you been involved in a slip and fall accident? Contact Leifer & Ramirez now at 561-660-9421 to schedule a free consultation. Our legal team will be able to discuss the legal options you have and advise you on what your next step should be.
