How can a Corpus Christi Slip and Fall Lawyer help you?
Under a legal doctrine known as premises liability, owners and occupiers of property have a duty to protect visitors to the property by keeping their property relatively safe and free of hazards. When owners and operators fail in this duty, visitors can be injured through no fault of their own. This failure to keep a property safe can be negligence.
In Texas, a person injured in a slip and fall accident may be able to recover damages if a property owner or occupier is negligent and that negligence was the cause of the accident resulting in injury.
If you have been injured in a slip, trip or fall you aren’t alone. One of the experienced Corpus Christi slip and fall Lawyers at Khattar Law, PC is here to help.
Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Occur?
Slip and fall accidents can occur anywhere visitors are present. Some of the most common locations include:
- Private residences. Private homes and apartment complexes are common locations for slip and fall accidents. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, on rental properties the landlord and the tenant may share liability for any injury sustained.
- Retail stores. Retail stores such as grocery stores are the stereotypical location for a slip and fall. Customers can face potential hazards in the parking lot, the sidewalk, and in the interior retail space.
- Hotels. Hotels and resorts often have swimming pools, restaurants, and other potentially wet, high-traffic areas that create increased potential for accidents.
- Restaurants. Prone to spills and grease, slippery floors at restaurants commonly result in slip and fall accidents.
- Workplaces. A large number of slip and fall accidents occur on the clock. Injured victims may be due compensation irrespective of workers compensation insurance.
- Apartment complexes. Apartment complexes have residences and common areas, Determining liability at an apartments complex may depend on where in the complex the accident takes place.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents?
Slip and fall accidents happen for all manner of reasons. Often there is more than a single cause for a slip and fall accident. Some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents include:
- Wet or slippery floors. This can be due to water, floor wax, cleaners, grease, or spills.
- Uneven floors. Issues such as loose flooring, uneven surfaces, and floor coverings such as rugs and mats can present obstacles and result in falls.
- Weather. Ice, sleet, snow, and rain can create hazardous conditions for visitors, especially in parking lots, sidewalks, and entryways.
- Improper lighting. Both inadequate and overbright lighting can make it difficult for visitors to see and easy for them to fall.
- Debris and clutter. Debris, trash, cords, wiring, and other objects allowed to accumulate in hallways and stairwells are serious tripping hazards for visitors.
- Lacking safety precautions. Non skid markings, handrails, caution signs, and other safety measures may be necessary to adequately protect visitors.
Common Injuries Resulting From A Slip and Fall Accident
Falls may not seem like a big deal, but in reality slip and fall accidents create a large number of diverse and serious injuries every year. While some of these injuries are relatively minor, others can result in long term serious health consequences such as traumatic brain injury, paralysis, even death.
If you have been injured severely due to the property owners mistake, you can take help from a Corpus Christi Personal Injury Lawyer.
Some of the most common types of injuries sustained in slip and fall accidents include:
- Head injuries. Head injuries are common in slip and fall accidents and range from mild concussions to traumatic brain injury. Serious TBI can result in memory problems, loss of motor functioning, paralysis, and death.
- Spinal cord injuries. As the core of the central nervous system, any damage to the spinal cord can have serious consequences.
- Broken and fractured bones. Fall victims, especially when eldrely, are prone to broken and fractured bones. Hips, tailbones, arms, legs, wrists, knees, and shoulders are all subject to break during a serious fall.
- Cuts and abrasions. During a fall it is common to suffer a blow to the head on your way down or cut your hands in an attempt to break your fall.
- Soft tissue damage. Tendons and ligaments in the knees, ankles, elbows, and wrists are easily damaged by the body’s own weight during a traumatic fall.
- Back injuries. The force trauma of a fall can put significant strain on the back and result in damage to the vertebrae and the discs.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Slip and Fall Case?
If you have been injured due to the negligence of a property owner you may be entitled to recover damages for your injuries. Courts regularly award injured plaintiffs compensation for economic and noneconomic damages including:
- Current and future medical costs. Seeking medical care as soon as possible following a slip and fall injury is the best way to prove your injuries are in fact a result of the fall. Further, your currently-accrued medical bills can be demonstrated by saving your medical bills whereas future medical costs can be estimated by medical experts.
- Rehabilitation. People who suffer serious falls may require physical, occupational, or other types of rehabilitation for a full recovery.
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity. If your injuries cause you to miss work during your recovery, you may be able to recover those costs. Further, if your injuries permanently keep you from returning to your previous type of employment, you may be entitled to compensation for a reduced earning capacity.
- Home help costs. You may be unable to do everything you used to after your accident. If so, you could recover costs for help you have to hire such as housekeeping, child care, transportation, or home health care.
- Pain and suffering. The pain and suffering following a slip and fall can be quite real and you may be entitled to compensation for yours.
- Emotional distress. Mental anguish including fear, anxiety, and sleep problems can affect slip and fall victims for long periods following an injury.
- Punitive damages. In certain situations where the defendant has been found grossly negligent, a court may award punitive damages to discourage such behavior in the future.
It is important to remember, however, that Texas law recognizes the doctrine of comparative fault. So if a jury finds that you were partially at fault for your injuries then any damage award may be reduced.
For example, if a jury determines that your damages are $100,000 but that you were 25% at fault, then your damages may be reduced to 75,000. Further, if you are found to be over 50% at fault, you may be barred from recovering any damages.
Contact a Corpus Christi Slip and Fall Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident in the Corpus Christi area, you may file an injury claim. Don’t risk negotiating with the insurance companies on your own. Call one of our experienced Corpus Christi Slip and Fall lawyers at Khattar Law, PC right away. Schedule a free case evaluation with us.