The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that someone in the United States will fall about once every second. In fact, falls are the top cause of injuries and deaths for older Americans. Even younger people can suffer serious injuries from falling.
As a slip and fall accident attorney, we have seen many people with misconceptions about this type of accident. Today we will cover three of the most common myths about these types of accidents. If you have additional questions, or you want a free legal consultation regarding your own accident, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000.
Myth 1: Anyone who falls in a business can sue the business
It is a common myth that if a person is inside a business and they fall, then it is automatically the fault of the business and a lawsuit is reasonable. The truth is that California premises liability law holds that a company can only be held liable if they acted negligently and their negligence later led to the injury.
There are many potential types of negligence, including not repairing a broken step, using a wax that is known to be slippery, or not cleaning up spills. No matter what the type of negligence is, if you cannot prove that the business was negligent then you will have no grounds to sue.
Myth 2: Only older people suffer in slip and fall accidents
The truth is that anyone can slip and fall – and anyone can be injured by a slip and fall accident. It is true that an elderly person is more likely to suffer a serious injury after slipping and falling, even a person who is in top physical condition can fall and break a bone.
Myth 3: It is not worth filing a lawsuit because these settlements are generally small
It is interesting that on one side, we see many clients who assume that anyone who falls inside a business can sue, while on the other end of the spectrum we see clients who assume there is no point in suing because settlements are so small that they are not worth it. Neither of these extremes are true.
In fact, there have been numerous high-profile settlements that have resulted in $2 million+ settlements in just the last few years. If you have been injured in a slip and fall that was the result of someone else acting negligently, then you could sue for your medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other dam ages. The amount of a settlement or jury award will depend on the specific damages you suffered as well as how strong your case is.
If you have slipped and fallen in the recent past you may be wondering if you have grounds for a lawsuit. The truth is that there is only one real way to tell: Contact a personal injury attorney for a free legal consultation. When you contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 you can count on us to give you an honest assessment of your options.
