To some people, the idea of filing a lawsuit because you slipped and fell on someone’s property may seem ridiculous. Everybody slips and falls from time to time, right? You just pick yourself back up, bandage your wounded pride, and move on.
Why would you ever need to sue over a slip and fall? Because sometimes just picking yourself back up isn’t an option.
While minor falls do occur, many slip and falls cause serious – even life-threatening – injuries. Worse, many cases that we take on could have been avoided: negligent employees or unsafe conditions are often the root causes of dangerous slips and falls.
By proving that these injuries could have been avoided, we are able to get our clients the compensation they need to recover from their injuries and financial losses, which can often balloon into tens of thousands of dollars – or more.
So, why exactly are slip and fall injuries so serious? Let’s look at a recent example that sounds silly – but could have turned deadly.
Dopey Takes a Spill
Walt Disney World is supposed to be the happiest place on Earth, but bad things can happen anywhere. This one really shows us how dangerous a slip and fall can be under certain circumstances. During the finale of Hollywood Studios’ big show Fantasmic!, many Disney characters stand along the railing of a double decker boat and wave to the crowd. Well, the actor playing Dopey took quite a tumble earlier this month, falling over the first railing and onto the bottom ledge.
Luckily, Goofy was there to break Dopey’s fall, but the video footage shows that both characters risked serious injuries. A few inches here or there and Dopey or Goofy might have found themselves suffering from:
- Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries
- Fractures
- Shoulder injuries
- Neck and back injuries
We already have enough pressure and tension in our backs. In fact, around 14 million Americans deal with chronic or extreme forms of back pain. Falling on your back or spine can turn up the dial on your pain within seconds. Falling on your head or neck may be even more serious, depending on the height and circumstances around your fall.
These injuries have long term effects, including chronic pain and the potential for numerous sessions of physical therapy. All of the treatments and appointments from this one injury costs money, meaning one slip and fall can cost you thousands of dollars over your lifetime.
The Basics of a Slip and Fall Case
Most slip and fall cases are a type of premise liability lawsuit, meaning you would sue the owner or employees of the property in which you slipped and fell, citing them for the cause of your accident.
Why? Because they have a duty to make sure that their property is safe for visitors. And if something specific may be dangerous, they are required to warn you about it.
So to win a slip and fall case, you will have to prove the following:
- The owner of the property where you slipped and fell was negligent in creating a safe property free of hazards.
- Your slip and fall was caused by the unsafe conditions of the property.
Proving these two claims will help you to prove that your injuries (and therefore, the resulting medical damages/financial losses), were caused by the negligence or actions of the property owner.
Don’t simply sit and suffer due to the actions of another. If you think you have a slip and fall lawsuit on your hands, contact a knowledgeable Florida personal injury lawyer today.