There you are. You’ve done it again, but this time it feels different. You can’t move, and your embarrassment comes in at a distant second to your searing pain. You’re scared and you’re wondering what to do next. Slip and Fall Accidents are no joke and are among the leading causes of unintentional injuries in the United States. Approximately 8.9 million people visit emergency rooms every year to seek treatment for their resulting injuries, many of them serious, and the average hospital stay for a fall injury is over $30,000. The following are the most common slip and fall injuries doctors see around the country:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (for example concussions)
- Fractures (especially hip fractures in the elderly)
- Sprained/strained muscles and torn tendons or ligaments
- Neck, Back, and Spinal Cord injuries
- Dislocated Shoulders
If you were injured as a patron of a place that is neither your home nor your place of employment, then you may have a premises liability claim. This refers to accidents that happened to a guest on property belonging to another person, business, or organization. Typically premises liability cases arise from unsafe conditions as a result of negligence. If the person who owns the property (whether it is a home or a business) was negligent, and the negligence resulted in your injury, then you may have a claim for which you can be compensated. If your claim is successful, you may be able to recover monetary compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, disability, pain and suffering, and loss of normal life.
Do I Have A Case?
There are several factors that go into establishing liability and determining negligence. These include:
- What The hazard was that caused the injury.
- How long The hazard that caused the injury had existed.
- Whether or not the homeowner or business owner knew of the hazard and failed to fix it.
- Whether or not the homeowner or business owner should have known about the hazard.
What Should I Do Next?
First, it is important to seek medical treatment, if necessary. You may be embarrassed and in shock, but not immediately having your injuries looked at by a trained medical professional may be detrimental to your healing process and, depending on the severity of the injury, could be life-altering. You don’t want to live with regrets.
Next you will want to take the following actions:
- Get the full names of the property owner(s) and any managers if applicable.
- Write down the contact information for any witnesses.
- Take photography or video of the scene of the accident as well as your injuries.
- Save your clothing and footwear from the incident. This could be used as evidence at settlement or trial.
- Avoid recorded statements with insurance companies, including any compensation initially offered. Depending on the situation, this may waive your right to sue for additional recovery.
Hiring an Illinois Accident Lawyer
When you’ve been involved in and slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, the owners of the property will not always be so helpful to you. They will likely claim that he or she was not negligent. They may argue that they had not yet had time to discover the issue that caused your accident, and that there was no way of knowing the issue was there. They may also claim that you were actually at fault for not being careful and aware of your own safety. This is why making the decision to hire a seasoned Illinois Premises Liability attorney can make the difference in whether you are appropriately compensated or whether you must bear the financial and physical burden yourself.
If you’re concerned about cost, know that Illinois Personal Injury law firm, Palermo Law Group works on a contingency basis which means that you won’t pay a dime unless they recover money for you.
Nationally recognized accident attorney, Mario Palermo of Palermo Law Group, has handled hundreds of slip and fall cases in his 20 year career. He is known for his dedication to his clients, and will take the time to explain your legal options, and discuss with you the various steps needed to be taken when fighting for the compensation you deserve. Mr. Palermo will guide you through the entire process, and will handle the necessary paperwork, phone calls and negotiations with insurance adjusters, defense attorneys and others, and will put his knowledge, skills, and resources to work for you. Call Palermo Law Group for a free legal consultation on your slip and fall at (630) 684-2332 and visit us at PalermoLawGroup.com.