A slip and fall accident could occur when you least expect it. Walking through the aisles of a supermarket or down a walkway could appear to be safe. However, if a negligent property owner or manager fails to inspect the property for dangerous conditions and promptly remedy the hazards, individuals could sustain serious injuries in a slip and fall accident.
Some owners or managers, when faced with liability for damages, may even attempt to argue that the injured individual contributed to the accident. In order to be prepared for common arguments in a slip and fall case, it could be worthwhile to talk with an Ocean Springs slip and fall lawyer. A seasoned personal injury attorney could evaluate your claim and calculate the damages you may be eligible to recover.
The purpose of legal classifications in a slip and fall case is to determine the level of care that a property owner owed to the individual. There are three general categories of visitors including invitees, licensees, and trespassers.
Property owners have a duty to make their property reasonably safe for invitees or warn them of any possible danger and hazards. Licensees, like invitees, may enter a property with the owner’s permission or consent. Social guests are usually considered to be licensees. Property owners must refrain from intentionally injuring licensees.
Trespassers, however, are individuals who do not have the permission or consent of the owner to be on the property. Property owners must only refrain from intentionally causing trespassers to sustain injuries on their property.
Injured individuals should speak to a knowledgeable slip and fall lawyer in Ocean Springs to determine their visitor status and how it could affect their case.
Slip and fall accidents occur when there is a condition on the property which causes someone to fall and become injured. This can be a substance on the floor that causes a slippery floor, it can be a defect in the walkway surface or a roadway which causes someone to fall and become injured. Additionally, defects in a building can someone to become injured. This can be rotten stairwells or older buildings that are not properly maintained. These types of accidents make up a large majority of all premises liability cases.
In seeking compensation for injuries sustained in a slip and fall accident, an individual may wish to consider the merits of reaching a settlement agreement or filing a lawsuit. Some insurance adjusters may refuse to offer a fair amount in settlement of a claim. In this circumstance, it could become necessary to file a lawsuit with the help of an Ocean Springs slip and fall attorney.
The type of damages and the amount of compensation that an injured party could expect to recover in a trip and fall accident claim varies case by case. Typically, injured individuals could recover compensation for damages such as:
Punitive damages could apply in rare cases. Typically, punitive damages are only appropriate in cases involving particularly egregious behavior. Based on such bad conduct, punitive damages serve to punish and deter this behavior from occurring again.
A knowledgeable attorney in Ocean Springs could provide assistance in determining which categories of damages apply to an individual’s slip and fall claim.
If you were recently injured in a slip and fall accident, your medical bills might be piling up. You might have also missed hours or days of work, which only adds to the financial burden.
You do not have to seek compensation for your injuries on your own. Instead, get help from an Ocean Springs slip and fall lawyer for assistance with your claim. Call today to get started on your case.