Accidental falls are the leading cause of injury and death in the United States. Around 8.2 million people were treated in emergency rooms for fall-related injuries in a recent year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Although many falls are random mishaps, there are times when the accident could have been prevented if someone else had been more careful. In those circumstances, the injured person could file a slip and fall claim against the reckless party.
Were you hurt after a fall on someone else’s property in Boston? If so, you could be entitled to compensation to help with the medical costs, missed wages, pain and suffering, and other losses you have endured. Learning your legal options is important and that’s how attorney for personal injury Michael Kelly can help.
Our experienced Boston slip and fall attorneys provide high-quality and compassionate legal services that put clients’ needs first. We’ll listen to your story and advise you of all possible avenues for compensation. You can count on us to fight for the best possible results in your slip and fall case.
Call 1-800-LAW-GUYS (1-800-528-4897) or contact us online for a free consultation.
What is a Slip and Fall Accident?
Slip and fall accidents occur when an individual slips or trips due to a hazardous condition on someone else’s property.. If such an incident results in an injury, the victim could have a valid slip and fall claim.
A slip and fall accident can occur anywhere. Whether you’re at a grocery store, public swimming pool, or restaurant, there may be grounds for a legal claim if it can be shown that the person or entity in control of the property did not take reasonable steps to prevent the accident from occurring.
Specific hazards that could result in a slip and fall accident case include:
- Uneven flooring
- Loose tiles, mats, or floorboards
- Torn carpeting
- Cracked sidewalks
- Recently mopped or waxed floors (with no warning signs)
- Poor lighting
- Broken handrails
- Narrow staircases
- Potholes in parking lots
- Debris or objects in a path where people walk
- Icy pavement or walkways
The key to obtaining compensation is proving that someone else’s carelessness contributed to your injury. Conducting a thorough investigation will be a crucial part of proving your case. The accomplished slip and fall lawyers at Michael Kelly know what it takes to build a successful claim and will put every effort into gathering evidence that shows why you deserve maximum compensation..
Common Injuries from Slip and Fall Accidents
Whether you fall from a significant height, slip on a wet surface, or stumble down the stairs, the severity of your slip and fall injuries could range from minor to life-threatening..
The most common types of slip and fall injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury or concussion
- Spinal cord injury
- Broken bones
- Other back injuries (e.g., herniated disc)
- Neck injuries
- Muscle strains
- Sprained wrists or ankles
- Internal organ damage
- Cuts and abrasions
- Nerve damage
- Emotional distress
- Temporary or permanent disability
It’s important to remember that some injuries don’t show up right away. That’s why you should always seek medical treatment after a slip and fall accident.. Even serious injuries may not appear on X-ray until hours or days after an accident.
Seeing a doctor right away also protects any future legal claim that you may have. Failure to seek timely medical treatment is a common excuse that insurance companies use to reduce or deny payouts to accident victims. They may argue that you weren’t as seriously injured as you claim to be because you didn’t get swift medical care.
Sadly, falls are also the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S. today. Family members of victims who died in a slip and fall accident in Boston may be able to bring a wrongful death claim for compensation against the negligent party.. If you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, Michael Kelly will help you fight for justice so that you can begin the painful process of moving forward in life.
Slip and Fall Injury Statistics
A deeper look at slip and fall statistics show just how dangerous these types of accidents can be:
- One out of every five falls results in a serious injury.
- Slip and fall accidents are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries..
- 95 percent of hip fractures are caused by falling.
- Over 800,000 people are hospitalized for slip and fall injuries every year, usually due to broken hips or head trauma.
- Slip and fall injuries are the primary cause of lost days off work.
- Slips, trips, and falls are the No. 2 cause of occupational deaths, second only to motor vehicle accidents.
- Dangerous falls aren’t always from elevated areas. An estimated 60 percent of falls occur from a height of fewer than 10 feet.
- Older people are at the greatest risk of injury and death from a slip and fall accident..
- If current rates continue to rise, you can expect there to be 7 slip and fall deaths every hour by 2030.
Average Settlement Amounts for Slip and Fall Injuries
There’s no way to predict how much a person will receive in an injury claim. The amount of any settlement will depend on several factors, such as:
- The severity of the injury
- How much medical treatment was necessary
- How long that treatment is expected to last
- Long-term impact of the injury(s)
- The victim’s age
- Any pre-existing conditions
- Previous results in similar legal cases
Every slip and fall accident case will have different facts. When you work with Michael Kelly, our skilled lawyers will review the specifics of your case and place an estimated value on it. Keep in mind that it is an estimate only — any number of factors could arise that could affect the ultimate outcome of your case.
What to Do After a Boston Slip and Fall Accident
There are several steps you can to take to protect your right to financial compensation after your injury occurs:
- Seek medical treatment for your slip and fall injuries.
- Determine who the property owner is and request a copy of their liability insurance policy.
- Take photos of the accident scene, including what caused you to fall and pictures of your injuries.
- Notify the at-fault party’s insurance company of the accident, but do not give a formal or recorded statement.
- Contact a trusted slip and fall attorney. A lawyer can help file an insurance claim, gather the documents needed to prove your claim, and represent you during settlement discussions.
Compensation for Slip and Fall Accident Victims
If you’re successful in your injury claim, you could receive compensation for part or all of your accident expenses and related losses. These are called damages.
When an insurance adjuster examines your slip and fall claim, he or she will take your damages into account to determine a settlement amount. In Massachusetts, you could receive compensation for:
- Medical bills: Expenses necessary to treat your injuries, including surgery, physical therapy, adaptive medical equipment, and prescription medications.
- Lost income: Wages you missed as a result of your injuries.
- Lost earning capacity: Future income that you will lose due to your injury, if you cannot return to the same level of employment you had before the accident.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for significant pain that you have endured.
- Emotional distress: Accounts for the psychological or mental effects of the accident on your life (e.g., PTSD, anxiety, depression, etc.).
- Permanent disability: Awarded when the injury prevents you from participating in the lifestyle you enjoyed before the incident occurred.
Can I Sue for My Slip and Fall Injury?
If you’re considering filing an insurance claim or suing for slip and fall injuries, there are several factors you must consider first.
Settlements don’t get awarded just because you fell on someone’s property. There are critical pieces of information that are relevant to the outcome of a slip and fall accident case, such as:
- Identifying the person or entity that is liable for the accident
- Evidence of negligence
- The victim’s role (if any) in causing the fall
- Deadlines to file a claim
Liability: If you seek to hold a person or entity liable for your fall, they must hold the legal responsibility for anything that happens on the property where your accident occurred. At a place of business, the business owner or property owner would assume responsibility. At someone’s private residence, the homeowner or rental management company would assume the responsibility for the guest’s injuries.
Negligence: Proving negligence requires evidence that the property owner knew about the existing hazards and had plenty of time or opportunities to fix them, but didn’t. You also need to show that there’s no way you could have noticed the hazard or identified them as being dangerous.
Fault: If you’re able to prove the negligent party solely created the conditions leading to your accident, you could seek a full settlement. However, compensation is still possible even if you share a portion of the blame. However, the ultimate amount you receive will be reduced by the percentage of fault you are assigned by the court.
Deadlines: There are time limits governing your right to file slip and fall lawsuits. Those deadlines are known as statutes of limitations. In Massachusetts, you have three years from the date of the slip and fall accident to sue the liable party for negligence.
When Should I Contact A Boston Slip and Fall Lawyer?
If you’ve suffered a serious slip and fall injury, it’s smart to contact a lawyer for advice as soon as possible. Many people try to handle their claims without legal representation. In minor injury situations, that may be acceptable. But when someone is seriously or catastrophically harmed, the stakes are higher. Having an attorney who can stand up for your rights can help ensure that you present a strong case for full and fair compensation.
With the assistance of an experienced lawyer at Michael Kelly, you can focus on your recovery while we handle all of the legal legwork for you. When you hire us, we can immediately begin work on your case. This is important, as crucial evidence can get lost, destroyed, or lose value over time. The sooner your lawyer can begin an investigation, the better.
Hiring a slip and fall lawyer is also useful if you already filed an insurance claim and were denied. Just because an insurer denies your claim doesn’t mean your case is over. An attorney can review the details of the insurance company’s decision and determine if he or she can dispute the decision.
Your lawyer will look for strong evidence that supports the events that led to your injury and shows that someone else’s negligence caused it to happen. They will gather documents that you didn’t initially submit and find additional information showing why you deserve compensation.
How Can Michael Kelly Law Help Me?
The legal team at Michael Kelly handles slip and fall accident cases just like yours. When you work with us, we will create an individualized approach to your case that is customized to meet your needs and wishes.
Quality client service is of the utmost importance to us. We believe in providing legal services that are convenient and efficient. You’ll never feel ignored or unimportant as a client at our firm.
At Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers, personal injury attorneys believe that injury victims deserve legal representation regardless of their ability to pay. That’s why we take cases on a contingency fee basis. That means that you pay no upfront costs for us to work on your case. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you.
The benefit of a contingency fee agreement is twofold. First, you don’t pay anything out of pocket to get started. Second, all of the risk is on your lawyer. When Michael Kelly accepts your claim, you can have confidence that we believe it’s a strong one.
Ready to get started? Our legal team is standing by to help. Call or contact us right away to schedule your free consultation.
