Springfield Slip
and Fall Attorneys

If you slip and fall when you’re out and about attending to the chores of everyday life, you may feel more embarrassed than anything else. The fact is, however, that slip and falls accidents like yours are not only very common but are also very dangerous. Property owners and managers, including those for the stores, restaurants, and other businesses that you regularly visit, are responsible for maintaining their properties in reasonably safe condition to allow for you and other visitors’ reasonably safe passage, and when they fail to do so, dangerous slip and falls can result.

If a business owner’s negligence leaves you injured in a slip and fall, don’t hesitate to reach out to an experienced Springfield slip and fall attorney for the professional legal guidance you need. 

Slip and Falls Happen

Although you may not think about slip and falls as being particularly threatening, they are as common as they are serious, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has the statistics to back this up, including:

1. About one out of every five slip and fall accidents leads to injuries as serious as broken bones and head injuries. 
2. More than 95 percent of all hip fractures happen in slip and falls, and these accidents are also the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
3. Each year, about 800,000 hospitalizations are fall-related, and the majority of these are predicated on head injuries or hip fractures.
4. In 2015, the total cost for slip-and-fall related medical bills topped $50 billion.

The seriousness of slip and fall accidents should never be underestimated.

Slip and Falls and Negligence

The laws related to slip and fall accidents are predicated on negligence, and to be successful, your claim must include the following components:

1. The property owner owed you a duty of care, which means that you were an invited visitor on that property, such as a customer at a store, and were not trespassing.
2. The property owner failed to meet this duty of care by failing to maintain the property in reasonably safe condition for the safe passage of you and other guests.
3. The property owner knew – or should have known – about the dangerous condition and didn’t’ do anything – or didn’t do enough – to remove the danger, to lessen the danger, or to warn about the danger.   
4. The dangerous condition caused you to slip and fall, and you were injured in the process.

If you slip and fall on a business property, don’t immediately assume it’s because you are a klutz. You very likely didn’t slip, fall, and become injured for no reason, and obtaining the compensation to which you’re entitled is the surest path toward a full recovery. 

Slip and Falls and Their Causes

Nearly any old tripping hazard – and there are many – can lead to a dangerous slip and fall accident, including all of the following:

1. Poorly maintained outdoor walkways and parking lots, including the effects of falling leaves and inclement weather that are not adequately tended to
2. Uneven, slippery, or debris-strewn entryways
3. Aisles that are made slippery by spills, are badly worn, or that have obstacles to safe passage such as being poorly designed, containing bulky promotions, and more
4. Inadequate lighting
5. Poorly designed, constructed, or maintained staircases

Slippery, uneven, or badly worn walkways – of every variety – often lead to dangerous slip and falls.

If You Slip and Fall

Every slip and fall accident follows its own course and is unique to the set of circumstances involved, but there are some basic first steps that routinely apply if you’ve been injured in such an accident, including:

1. Obtain the medical attention you need from the outset. Your health is too important to ignore, and early treatment is closely associated with improved outcomes. 
2. Tell the property owner or manager about your slip and fall accident and request a copy of the accident report.
3. Snap photos of the hazard that left you injured – and of your injuries. If there are any eyewitnesses, ask for their statements and record their contact information. 

If you are unable to take care of all these tasks yourself, someone at the scene will likely step in to help. 

It’s Time to Consult with an Experienced Springfield Slip and Fall AttorneySeeking the Damages to Which You Are Entitled

If a negligent property owner leaves you injured in a slip and fall accident, the resourceful Springfield slip and fall attorneys at Malman Law understand how important just compensation is to your recovery and are committed to aggressively advocating on behalf of your rights. To learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.

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