Miami Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
Slip and fall accidents are a ubiquitous part of childhood, but when was the last time you suffered an accidental fall as an adult? People tend to think that anyone between the ages of 13 and 65 who gets injured in an accidental fall must be unusually careless or unlucky. In the silent film era, Buster Keaton made a career of the unexpectedness of seeing adults fall down.
When an apparently healthy adult suffers an accidental fall at a place of business, the cynical voices of the blogosphere and the social media platform formerly known as Twitter will start to speculate that the person is faking it and is just trying to cash in on a premises liability claim. Consider Slippin’ Jimmy from Better Call Saul.
Unfortunately, businesses, which are legally responsible for preventable accidental injuries that occur on their premises, are all too willing to capitalize on the lack of public sympathy for victims of accidental falls and to use this to bully you into accepting a premises liability settlement that does not cover the full cost of your accident-related medical bills. For help getting a sufficient settlement amount for your premises liability claim, contact a Miami premises liability lawyer.
How Bad are Slip and Fall Injuries?
You might be surprised at how severely it is possible to get injured when you slip or trip and fall on the floor or outdoor walkway of a retail store or restaurant. You are walking, not running, and the distance of your fall does not exceed your height; these factors can mitigate the severity of your injuries. On the other hand, the surface on which you fall is made of hard concrete or tile; it is not designed to protect against injury, unlike the floors of gymnasiums or martial arts studios, where falls are expected. Likewise, parts of your body might strike other hard structures, such as product displays or concrete planters.
These are some serious injuries that sometimes result from slip and fall accidents:
- Bone fractures
- Whiplash injury
- Nerve damage secondary to fractures and sprains, sometimes leading to complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
- Concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injury
These injuries are usually not life-threatening, but the worst of them can cause permanent disability.
Getting Adequate Compensation for Your Premises Liability Claim
Premises liability laws require the owners of a business where a customer suffered a preventable injury to pay all of the injured customer’s accident-related medical expenses and lost income. The business owner may try to argue that some of your symptoms, such as chronic pain, are the result of pre-existing medical conditions instead of due to the accident. A premises liability lawyer can help you provide strong evidence to back up your claims so that you can get the money you need.
Contact Gerson & Schwartz About Personal Injury Cases
A premises liability lawyer can help you get the money you need if you suffer severe injuries in a slip and fall accident. Contact Gerson & Schwartz in Miami, Florida, to discuss your case.
