Our team of slip-and-fall accident lawyers in Duluth can provide you with legal assistance after being injured due to someone else’s negligence. Even though slip-and-fall accidents are relatively common, they can be extremely dangerous and lead to complex legal and medical disputes.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a slip-and-fall accident, you need a Duluth personal injury lawyer at your side. Barrios Virguez’s lawyers have been victims of injustice themselves and understand how difficult it can be to file a legal claim for the first time. That’s why we offer free case evaluations at no cost.
What Is a Slip-and-Fall Accident?
A slip-and-fall accident is exactly what it sounds like. It is an incident in which someone slips (trips, loses balance, grabs for something unstable), falls, and suffers an injury. If you were lawfully on someone else’s property at the time of the slip-and-fall, a Duluth premises liability lawyer can help you file a claim.
When the accident is work-related, the injured person may have to file a different claim. It all depends on the employee-employer agreement and the state’s worker’s compensation laws.
For a free legal consultation with a slip and fall accidents lawyer serving Duluth, call 678-888-2222
What to Do After a Slip-and-Fall Accident
The steps you take immediately following an accident are vital to building the strongest legal case possible if you or someone you care about has been injured. After falling, slipping, and tripping, follow these steps:
Check for Injuries
Make sure you are safe. Jumping back on your feet right after falling is not a good idea. This can make injuries to the back or spine worse, which can be especially dangerous.
If you feel anything sharp, aching, or other, take a moment to check for them. Stay where you are until paramedics arrive if you have back pain or tingling in your arms and legs.
Get Medical Help
You must seek medical attention not just for your safety but also to build your case. You must document your injuries after a slip-and-fall. Creating a record of your injuries begins with visiting a doctor immediately after your slip-and-fall.
Take Pictures
In addition to listening to witnesses and visualizing the scene, jurors benefit from seeing photos of the scene. Take pictures of the scene even if you aren’t sure what you are photographing. It’s fine to use your smartphone.
Remember to take photos of the floor, the area surrounding you, and even the surrounding area. With the help of your attorney, you can determine what is most important later. Photos can also prove the accuracy of your version of events.
Find Witnesses
You need witnesses to verify what you say. Your best witnesses might be other customers at a business if you slip and fall there. If you want them to testify on your behalf, you need their contact information. Get the names, phone numbers, addresses, and e-mail addresses of witnesses. Ask them to explain what they saw briefly.
File for Insurance
Call the appropriate insurance company after you have taken care of your medical needs. Most likely, the property owner will be responsible for paying damages if someone falls on the property. A person, business, or government could be responsible for your accident, depending on where it happened. If you have been injured on a property, contact the owner’s insurance company.
There is a time limit for filing a claim after an accident, known as the statute of limitations. In addition to taking care of the insurance claims process, identifying the right parties for compensation, and negotiating with the insurance claims adjuster on your behalf, your lawyer can also help you meet that deadline.
Duluth Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer Near Me 678-888-2222
Compensation You May Be Entitled to After a Slip and Fall Accident in Duluth
After a slip and fall accident in Duluth, you may be entitled to various forms of financial compensation to help you recover from the physical, emotional, and financial losses you’ve experienced. Understanding what types of damages you can claim is important as you consider pursuing a personal injury lawsuit.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover the tangible financial losses related to your accident. These can include:
- Medical expenses: This covers costs for immediate treatment, ongoing care, emotional therapies, psychological therapy, and any required medical devices.
- Loss of income: If your injuries prevent you from working, you can seek compensation for the wages you’ve lost and any future income you may miss.
- Property damage: If personal property, such as a phone or glasses, was damaged during the fall, you may be able to recover the cost of repairs or replacements.
- Out-of-pocket expenses: These include any other costs related to the accident, such as transportation to medical appointments or nursing home care if needed.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages address the intangible aspects of your suffering. These can be more difficult to quantify but are just as important. Common non-economic damages include:
- Painful injuries: Compensation for the physical pain and suffering caused by your injuries.
- Emotional distress: The psychological impact of the accident, such as anxiety or depression.
- Loss of consortium: If your injuries affect your relationship with your spouse or family, you may be entitled to compensation for this loss.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: If your injuries prevent you from enjoying activities you once loved, you can seek damages for this loss.
In some cases, punitive damages may be awarded if the responsible party’s actions were particularly negligent or reckless. These damages are intended to punish the negligent party and deter similar behavior in the future.
The burden of proof in a slip-and-fall case lies with the injured party, meaning you’ll need to provide evidence like accident reports, witness statements, and medical records to support your claim. Working with a knowledgeable attorney from a personal injury law firm can help you gather the necessary evidence and build a strong case.
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How a Duluth Slip-and-Fall Lawyer Can Help
If you slip and fall, what you do afterward is crucial to getting a fair settlement. Verification and documentation are essential to preserving and building your slip-and-fall claim.
In addition to seeking immediate medical attention and taking photographs, you should also identify witnesses as soon as possible after a slip-and-fall. Working with a qualified personal injury lawyer as soon as possible is crucial. For maximum recovery, they prepare slip-and-fall cases and can build upon what you’ve already started.
Hiring a Duluth slip-and-fall attorney who can ask the right questions can maximize your recovery and make the claims process as smooth as possible.
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Common Slip-and-Fall Accidents
The umbrella term slip-and-fall is used to describe a range of these types of injuries. The sensitive nature of all personal injury cases requires differentiating between these different terms. Here are some common ways to describe different slip-and-fall accidents.
- Slip-and-fall. Liquids on the ground, wet areas, or slippery objects cause these accidents.
- Trip and fall. This type of accident occurs when a person trips over an object or uneven surface in their path.
- Step and fall. Despite its rarity, this is a distinct type of fall injury. In this accident, there is a hole in the path or a low spot that causes the fall.
Common Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents
One of the top tasks your slip and fall accident lawyer in Duluth, GA, is responsible for is figuring out who is responsible for causing your injuries. The way your slip and fall injuries occurred will help your attorney reveal the at-fault party.
With that in mind, some of the more common causes of slip-and-fall accident injuries include
- Wet floors
- Snow and ice
- Debris in the walkways
- Unsecured flooring or carpeting
- Broken stairs or railings
- Ladder accidents
- Defective or malfunctioning escalators and elevators
While some slip and fall accidents may need almost no medical attention, a severe injury case may result in a higher compensation amount. For reference, you can take a look at the average settlement for a back injury.
Liability and Negligence for Duluth Slips and Falls
Once we have a better idea of how your injuries occurred, your Duluth, GA, slip and fall injury lawyer will gather the evidence needed to prove the defendant’s negligence and liability for your damages. When filing any personal injury claim, it is important to remember that Georgia is an at-fault state.
In the majority of slip-and-fall accident claims, the property owner is responsible for the victim’s damages. This is generally because property owners must ensure their premises are safe for guests and patrons at all times. Any failure to uphold this obligation is tantamount to negligence and leaves the property owner open to liability claims.
The Open and Obvious Doctrine
However, property owners who make hazards open and obvious can escape liability. Under the open and obvious doctrine, if hazardous conditions have been made obvious through vibrant signs and other efforts, the property owner could escape blame, as they have done their part to notify guests and patrons of potential hazards.
A perfect example of property owners keeping the open and obvious doctrine in mind, is restaurants that put out wet floor signs when mopping or clearing spilled beverages. The bright yellow wet floor signs indicate the area is dangerous, and guests should proceed with caution. Without a wet floor sign, the restaurant could be sued if any patrons slipped and fell due to the wet floor.
Contact a Duluth Slip-and-Fall Lawyer Today
Slip-and-fall accidents caused by property owners’ negligence in Duluth may result in serious injuries and other losses, and you could be entitled to compensation. The person responsible for your slip-and-fall accident should be held accountable.
That is where a Duluth slip-and-fall lawyer comes into play. Seek compensation in Duluth, Georgia, by hiring a Duluth slip-and-fall attorney at Barrios Virguez. When it comes to reimbursement for your slip-and-fall injuries and lost wages, Our firm will do everything in our power to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Schedule your appointment today.
Call or text 678-888-2222 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
