Accidents come without warning.
Victims can be merely walking in a department store and the next thing he knows; he is lying on the ground in pain.
This is just an example of common slip and fall accidents, which often victimize passersby and put them in a great deal of agony.
Be it on streets, private properties, or even in commercial establishments, slip and fall accidents are common as pedestrian accidents and premise liability claims.
Slip and Fall Accidents
“Slip and fall” is a term coined to describe an accident wherein the owner or the administrator of the vicinity is responsible for the accident.
Negligence in the property, which resulted to the injury or fatality of an individual, is the legal responsibility of the owner.
It is crucial, therefore, to prove that the owner has knowledge or is aware of the condition of the vicinity. This would ensure that he is the one at fault and would be responsible for the compensation to be given to victim/s.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
There are various reasons that could contribute to this type of accidents as the places of where this could happen are boundless. Here are some of them:
• Substance obstructing the walkway
- According to studies, more than 60 per cent of tripping or slipping accidents is caused by wet floor or objects on the person’s walkway.
• Uncovered holes on floors
- If there are holes or weak spots where people would be likely to be walking on, it is the administrator’s duty to put signage to warn people. He could also cover up the marked hole to prevent further discomfort to others.
Results of Slip and Fall Accidents
Injuries sustained by the victim range from minor bruising to the worst outcome of any accident, death. Here are some of the results of slip and fall accidents:
• Bruises, Cuts, and Wounds
• Broken / Fractured bones
• Torn Ligaments
• Spinal Injury
• Brain Injury
Compensations
Once the owner is proved liable for the accident, he is legally responsible to give compensation to the victim. There are different laws on states, which would determine the amounts that the offender must pay the victims.
Usual compensations include:
• Medical bills - The owner of the vicinity must pay hospital bills, medicines, and/or treatments availed by the victim because of the accident.
• Funeral and burial services - In cases of fatality
Proving Fault
To have a strong claim against the owners, the victim must be able to document the accident. He should have a copy of medical bills and police report regarding the incident.
If possible, he should also have photos of the injury he sustained from the fall. It would also be helpful if he has contact details of the owner and witnesses.
Proving that the owner has prior knowledge of the harmful condition of his establishment is hard.
But, there are lawyers whose expertise include slip and fall accidents. These lawyers could protect victims from scrupulous insurance lawyers.
In California, there are Los Angeles Slip and Fall Lawyers who could help the victims claim compensation for the damages.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Ivonne Jade Agustin
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