What To Do When You Slip and Fall
Slip and fall (sometimes called trip and fall) is simply the term applied when a person slips and falls due to hazardous or unsafe conditions. Slip and fall accidents can occur due to uneven surfaces (i.e. broken sidewalks), spills (water, oil and other liquids either accidentally spilled on the floor or placed there due to cleaning or other activities), or objects causing obstructions in walkways. Additionally, slip and fall accidents can be the result of improper clearing of sidewalks and walkways due to adverse weather conditions or poor lighting on walkways or sidewalks.
There are approximately 16,000 fatalities in the United States each year due to slip and fall accidents. Slip and fall accidents can cause injuries that range from minor bruising and soreness to serious physical injury and death. The most common injuries in a slip and fall accident are spinal cord injuries and broken bones. Slip and fall accidents in older adults often lead to broken bones, brain injuries and other serious physical injuries. Approximately 60 percent of all slip and fall accidents in older adults lead to hospitalization (creating a greater economic burden on the individual-some of whom are retired and on highly fixed incomes). Injures from a slip and fall may not manifest for several days. It is important to get treatment immediately following the incident in order to determine if there is soft tissue, vertebrae or other damage. Slip and fall injuries also include burns (such as carpet burns from tripping over ripped or poorly installed carpeting) or slippery flooring such as freshly waxed floors. In the most serious cases, slip and fall accidents lead to the death of the victim due to brain or spinal cord injuries or other fatal physical impairments.
Slip and fall accidents are highly complex; therefore, the assistance of an attorney is necessary for the victim to get compensated for injuries sustained, medical costs incurred and time lost from work due to the incident. One of the more complex matters in a slip and fall incident is determining who is the responsible party (i.e. who is responsible for compensating the victim for injuries incurred). The attorneys at Kirby Kelly assist clients in determining the extent of the injuries, the amount of compensation due the victim and who is responsible for remitting said compensation. Additionally, multiple parties may be responsible for the conditions that lead to the incident; therefore, the assistance of a personal injury expert such as the associates at Kirby Kelly can mean the difference between no compensation and full compensation for injuries sustained, medical expenses incurred, lost wages and other expenses associated with the incident.
Slip and fall injuries at work are even more complex. In the United States, there are more than one million slip and fall incidences per year. Of these, approximately 1/3 sustain serious, permanent injuries. Slip and fall incidences on the job cause more fatalities than any other work related incidences. The insurance companies work for the company insured, not the injured worker. The associates at Kirby Kelly provide expert legal representation of individuals injured in a slip and fall at work-giving them the best legal defense when dealing with the company insurance agency.
The attorneys at Kirby Kelly assist clients and their families in protecting their right to ample medical treatment for injuries sustained in a slip and fall incident. Applying expert legal knowledge to each case, Kirby Kelly law firm determines culpability of the responsible party and the necessary course of action to reach a settlement out of court or trial award. They work to document the conditions of the scene through photographs and video of the area, talking to witnesses of the incident and preparing and drafting the appropriate complaints. They research the property ownership to determine responsible party and if there have been similar incidences or repairs recommended in the past.
As personal injury experts, the attorneys at Kirby Kelly fully apply the Louisiana personal injury laws to each case to reach an appropriate out of court settlement or an appropriate award in a personal injury trial. They provide expert legal advice to insure the client’s rights are fully protected. By handling each case individually, clients are afforded the best legal representation in Northern Louisiana for slip and fall injuries. As personal injury specialists, the attorneys at Kirby Kelly have over 15 years experience in getting clients compensation for injuries sustained due to the willful, negligent or reckless act of another.
