Just as your auto insurance company tries to prepare you for when that inevitable car accident occurs, the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Geoffrey B. Gompers & Associates want to prepare you in case you ever find yourself a victim of a slip and fall accident.
First, you must know what constitutes a “slip and fall” under the law. This is when someone has been injured on another’s property as a result of negligence. The owner of the property could be held liable for any injury-related expenses if he or she neglected to remove a known hazard or caused a hazard on the property which led to the slip and fall accident.
Important Factors to Consider
- Duty – Property owners have a duty to care for their property and keep it safe for visitors or potential visitors. If there is a dangerous condition on the property that the owner is aware of, he or she has an obligation to notify others who are expected to be on the property or repair or fence in the hazard.
- Falls can be deadly – Falls contribute to a high rate of accidental death in the United States. In one year alone, about 15,000 people over the age of 65 died as a result of a fall.
- Fall accidents and hospital visits – About eight million emergency room visits each year are related to slip and fall accidents in the United States. This means that over 21 percent of the emergency room visits per year are related to falls.
- Risk-prone areas – The most risk-prone areas for falls are driveways, ramps, stairs, ladders, uneven surfaces, and messy or wet areas. A survey of Workers’ Compensation claims shows that 85 percent of these claims are related to falls on wet floors. Ensuring that outdoor areas and indoor floors are free from water, ice, and debris is extremely important in preventing these accidents.
- Legal claim assessment – If you suspect that you may have a legal claim against the property owner after an accident, you should consult an attorney to review the facts of your case. You could be entitled to payment toward medical bills and other monetary benefits such as compensation for lost work and pain and suffering.
- Preserve evidence – It is best to keep the shoes and clothing you wore the day of the accident and not to use it any longer. This is because these items may be used if you decide to bring a legal case. Additionally, get the contact information for any potential witnesses to your accident.
- Do not discuss your potential claim – It is wise not to engage in conversation with an insurance representative who was sent by the property owner or to engage in too much conversation with the property owner. It is always best to consult an experienced slip and fall lawyer before you announce you may sue or you make a statement to an insurance company.
Philadelphia Slip and Fall Lawyers at Geoffrey B. Gompers & Associates Hold Negligent Property Owners Accountable
Philadelphia slip and fall lawyers at Geoffrey B. Gompers & Associates are here to understand what happened during your accident. Meet with us in our Center City Philadelphia office or in our Voorhees, New Jersey office if you been injured in a slip and fall accident. Call us today at 215-567-6600 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.