A slip and fall can occur at any time; if you slip and fall on commercial property, you may be entitled to compensation. The law can make your case harder to win. However, a skilled attorney, experienced in slip and fall accidents and personal injury cases, can improve your chances of winning a difficult case.
Slip and Fall Accidents on Commercial Property
Slip and fall accidents on a commercial property can occur due to the negligence of an owner. You must be able to prove that that negligence caused your injury. In addition, you must prove that the store owner knew, or should have known, the problem and did not fix it. Under most state laws, commercial businesses are required to keep their property safe for public use, property owners have a responsibility to fix dangerous conditions and warn the public about potential dangers, such as putting a cautionary sign on a wet floor.
Most Common Injuries
The most common example of a slip and fall on commercial property is slipping over a liquid, like spilled milk, at a grocery store or tripping over a crack in the pavement of a parking lot. If a store owner has failed to clean up a spill, which has resulted in an injury, or has been unwilling or unable to provide a reasonably safe environment for the public, it may be considered negligent in the eyes of the law.
Recovering Damages
If such an incident happens to you, the injuries can be painful, costly, and life-altering. Depending on the circumstances and the extent of the injuries, victims may be able to recover damages. If you are a victim, it is important to collect as much evidence as possible after the accident to have the best chance of building a strong case. In the case of slip and fall injuries, eyewitness testimony turns out to be the strongest evidence.
Winning a Slip and Fall Case Against a Business Premises Owner
At the most basic level, to have a successful outcome under the law in a slip and fall case, the victim must prove that the property owner knew about the problem. This is known as “real knowledge.” Or, the victim can prove negligence by showing that the business owner should have known about the problem, which is known as a “constructive notice” and can be demonstrated by presenting evidence such as a photo of a defective sidewalk or witness testimony about common maintenance problems such as a leaky roof.
If a victim can prove that the owner of a business premises failed to make repairs or failed to warn the public of the potential dangers that led to the injuries, they may have a strong case and be entitled to compensation that includes present and future medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Why You Need A Lawyer
Some cases of slips and falls are caused naturally, by things beyond anyone’s control. Just because someone slips or stumbles in public doesn’t mean the company is automatically responsible. For example, when there is no obvious hazard, such as a dry floor, but a slip still occurs, this could simply be an accident. Both parties should carefully investigate the evidence and facts of each case. For the company to be liable, the plaintiff will have to prove that the reason the accident occurred was a direct result of something the company could have avoided. For this reason, you need to consult with one of the best personal injury attorneys in your area.
