How to Sue After a Slip-and-Fall Accident
Slip-and-fall accidents can lead to broken bones, spinal damage, and traumatic brain injuries. When a severe injury such as this occurs, the lasting impact can change the course of your life forever. Medical expenses will pile up, going back to work may be impossible, and basic motor and sensory functions can be limited.
When a slip-and-fall accident occurs on the property of someone else, premises liability laws are followed to hold property owners accountable and protect fall victims from paying for injuries they didn’t cause. Any hazard, such as spilled liquid, uneven surfaces, or ice must be labeled as a hazard or removed unless the property owner wants to be held liable for any damages that arise from the hazard.
At Mahoney & Mahoney, LLC, our lawyers have a deep understanding of premises liability law and we work diligently to help injured victims of slip-and-fall accidents obtain the compensation they deserve. If you’ve suffered from such an incident and believe negligence was involved, it’s important that you file a claim to hold the liable parties accountable.
Proving Negligence Occurred
When you sue someone in a slip-and-fall accident, you’ll need to prove negligence transpired and caused your injuries. In order to prove negligence, your personal injury attorney will gather any available evidence and investigate your case. The court will require tangible proof of negligence so it can confidently hold the property owner accountable and award you with a settlement.
It should be relatively simple to prove that the accident happened on the property owner’s land by using police reports, video footage, or photographs. Proving negligence caused your injuries will require you to present medical records. Witnesses can testify as to how the accident happened in real time.
Seeking Compensation in Court
Once the defendant can be successfully named in your case, your lawyer will begin calculating your overall claim value. Not only will your direct medical expenses be used to determine your settlement amount, but other compensatory damages will also be considered.
Economic damages, which are the ways in which the accident has affected you financially will be measured, including indirect medical costs such as lack of earning ability and property damages. Non-economic damages, which are the ways in which the accident affected your lifestyle, will be examined as well, such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress.
Consult a Rockford Personal Injury Lawyer
Experiencing a slip-and-fall accident can be difficult because the healing process after a severe injury can take months and sometimes years. It’s understandable that suing the responsible party may seem overwhelming when you aren’t familiar with the legal process, but with the help of an experienced lawyer from Mahoney & Mahoney, LLC, you can rest assured that the legalities will be handled.
Knowing how to sue someone shouldn’t be your main concern. Let us help you with the lawsuit while you focus on a full recovery. Our hope is that you can walk away from the lawsuit with the settlement you deserve and some closure, as well. If you’re ready to speak with a Rockford personal injury lawyer, call 815-656-4600 for a free initial consultation or fill out the contact form below.
