Slip and fall cases fall under “Premises liability”, which is a specific area of law that deals with the legal obligations of property owners to ensure their premises are safe from hazards or warn visitors of the potential danger when a hazard is present.
This means that if someone were walking on someone’s property and broke their ankle because of a sinkhole, for instance, they would be able to file a claim if there were no posted warnings around the sinkhole.
Unfortunately, if a person sustains an injury from a slip and fall resulting from their own negligence, they would not be able to seek compensation through a personal injury claim in this circumstance.
If you suffer an injury on someone else’s property in Alabama or Mississippi and feel it was due to unsafe conditions without warning signs, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Pepper & Odom to learn whether you can seek compensation.
Slip and fall injuries
There are numerous combinations of situations and causes that can result in a wide range of accidents and injuries related to slip and fall cases. However, many premises liability claims are results of slip and fall or slip/trip injuries.
Usually, when a person falls, it is the loss of traction on surfaces intended for walking that is the causing factor. Sometimes a person may even trip over stairs or objects in their path.
No matter where or how, slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere, anytime. Some examples of hazards that could cause someone to slip and fall or trip and fall include:
- Trash, debris or other clutter
- Spills like spilled liquids, food, oil or other foreign substances on floors
- Wet walking surfaces like a freshly mopped floor with no signage
- Snow or ice not properly shoveled from walkways
- Fallen Leaves that are not raked and managed
- Broken steps, stairs, sidewalks, or other uneven surfaces
- Torn carpeting or other damaged flooring
- Rugs and mats that are loose
- Guardrails and handrails that are broken or missing
- Potholes
- Insufficient lighting
Slip and fall injuries can happen anywhere art any time
Dealing with injuries that are a result of a slip and fall can be exhausting, and for some, overwhelming. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, otherwise known as the CDC, the estimated amount of slip and fall accidents resulting in major injuries, such as head injuries or broken bones.
Unfortunately, the inmeasurable amounts of injuries that result in medical costs from people getting hurt outside of work are not a part of the CDC’s calculation. Again, slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere and anytime.
While head injuries and broken bones may be some of the most major injuries, there are others that may result from slip and fall accidents. Injuries like soft tissue injuries, brain injuries, hip or pelvic injuries, spinal injuries, and back injuries.
Additionally, lacerations, punctures, scraps, cuts, and fractures are other injuries a person could suffer from a slip and fall. However, some of these injuries could take a long time to recover from.
More severe injuries may even require surgery or long-term treatment. Either way, if you slip and fall, and get hurt, getting medical help is crucial.
In order for you to seek compensation for injuries that were a result of someone’s negligence, you must get a medical report. The report will describe your injuries and act as a vital piece of evidence for building your case.
Connect with Pepper & Odom
If you or a loved one suffer an injury from a slip and fall that was caused by negligence, Pepper & Odom can help you get the compensation you deserve. Our firm can help you build your case and help you get on the right track to recovery.
Contact us online or call (601) 202-1111 to reach us in Ridgeland, Mississippi. To reach us in Birmingham, Alabama, call (205) 250-1107.