Understanding the Cultural Narrative
Each year, thousands of Mississippians are rushed to local emergency rooms after suffering serious slip and fall injuries. Unfortunately, Corporate America has influenced the cultural narrative surrounding personal injury cases because businesses fear civil litigation and monetary losses. As a result, it’s easy for naysayers to hear about a slip and fall case and assume the victim is out for a pretty penny because “we live in a litigious society.”
What many people don’t realize is that slip and fall incidents often lead to severe injuries and devastating disabilities. For this reason, homeowners, public property owners, and business owners in Mississippi have a legal obligation to provide a reasonably safe environment to guests, passersby, residents, and employees. When this duty isn’t upheld, the injured party may have grounds to file a premises liability claim.
Slip and fall accidents frequently occur at:
- Shopping malls
- Construction sites
- Grocery stores
- Hospitals
- Parks
- Neighborhoods
- Nursing home facilities
- Apartment complexes
- Hotels
- Office buildings
- Restaurants
- Parking structures
What Is a Slip & Fall Injury?
As the term implies, a slip and fall – or trip and fall – incident is when a person slips on someone else’s property and sustains injuries that necessitate medical attention. For example, if it’s raining or snowing, a business owner needs to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of their customers and employees. The business owner can prevent potential injuries by putting up warning signs, setting out mats and towels, and periodically drying the floor whenever it gets wet.
Hazardous conditions that could result in slip and fall injuries include, but are not limited to:
- Water puddles
- Pipe leaks
- Rickety staircases
- Clutter and debris
- Unstable or absent handrails
- Poor lighting
- Cords or cables on public walkways
- Cracked or uneven flooring
- Recently waxed floors
- Unsalted ice
- Potholes
A severe fall injury can impact a person’s mobility and independence, especially if they are over the age of 65. Statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirm that over 3 million elderly Americans are treated for slip and fall injuries each year. But it isn’t just the elderly who are susceptible to dangerous slips and trips – anyone can suffer injuries after a bad fall. In fact, the CDC reports that slip and fall accidents are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
A person can sustain the following injuries during a slip and fall incident:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Head injuries
- Broken bones
- Sprains
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations
- Hip fractures
- Nerve damage
- Neck injuries
Pursue Damages with Richard Schwartz & Associates Injury Lawyer, P.A.
Slip and fall cases are the most common type of personal injury claim filed in the United States. To secure damages, your legal team needs to prove that you were welcome on the property and suffered injuries after being exposed to a dangerous and preventable hazard. Of course, the defendant may try to dispute your claim by evidencing that you were trespassing, intoxicated, or behaving recklessly when the accident occurred.
At Richard Schwartz & Associates Injury Lawyer, P.A., our premises liability attorneys can investigate your accident, research the property owner’s history, and collect evidence that proves the at-fault party is responsible for your condition and any associated financial losses. With our assistance, you can recover damages that account for your medical bills, lost wages, legal fees, and more.
