You could suffer a slip and fall that leaves you with severe injuries in an instant. However, with a slip and fall lawyer on your side, you can rest and recover while your attorney handles the settlement process. Here are four situations where you should hire a lawyer to handle your slip and fall case.
4 Situations to Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer
1. You’ve Suffered a Workplace Injury
Slips and falls are the most common workplace injuries. Falls rank as one of the top nonfatal injuries that require victims to take time away from work. In 2020 alone, over 200,000 workers had to take time off after suffering a fall in the workplace. While falls are more common in industries like construction, they can occur in office jobs as well.
If you fall at work, the first step is to file a worker’s compensation claim. The money you receive from your worker’s compensation claim is likely enough to cover minor injuries like a sprained ankle or a bruised rib. In this case, you won’t need an attorney’s help. However, if you were seriously injured or disabled due to your fall, hiring an attorney to file a third-party lawsuit can help you get the money you deserve.
Worker’s compensation may only pay out a limited amount for medical expenses and lost wages. Filing a third-party lawsuit allows you to demand payment to cover all of your medical bills and lost wages, future earnings, and other damages suffered as a result of your accident. In this case, your attorney will work to prove that your fall was the direct result of your employer’s negligence.
2. You Were Injured in Public
Businesses and property owners are held to high standards and expected to keep their premises and facilities safe for everyone. Property defects and hazards like spilled liquids, broken handrails, and inadequate lighting create a perfect storm of conditions where slips and falls can occur. No two slip and fall cases are the same. There are many hazards and situations that lead to falls and injuries in public. Some of the most common causes include:
- Wet or icy pavement
- Wet floors
- Uneven floors
- Torn carpets
- Broken steps or stairs
- Obstructed walkways
If you suffered a fall in public and were injured, seeking legal counsel is essential. Without it, you’ll have a hard time proving that the accident was the business’s fault. In addition, the property or business owner will use their legal counsel to protect themselves from liability, so you’ll need an attorney on your side to fight for your case.
3. Your Injury Resulted in Expensive Medical Bills
Slip and fall injuries can range from minor bumps and bruises to broken bones, head injuries, lacerations, and more. According to the CDC, over 800,000 people are hospitalized with fall-related injuries every year. If you found yourself hospitalized or needing medical care after your fall, it’s important to hold the right people accountable and get your bills paid.
You should not be held responsible for medical bills resulting from the injuries you suffered from your accident. No matter what, if your injury landed you in the hospital or resulted in expensive ongoing care, a Houston slip and fall lawyer can help you secure total compensation for your medical expenses.
Dealing with hospitals, doctors, insurance companies, and billing departments is not for the faint at heart. You’ll want an experienced legal professional to navigate the red tape on your behalf. You can focus on healing from your injuries without worrying about how you’ll pay for your medical care.
4. You’re Having Issues With the Insurance Company
Many insurance companies and businesses use every tactic to avoid paying settlements in slip and fall cases. You may feel forced to accept a smaller settlement than you think you deserve. If the insurance company is refusing to pay or is only willing to pay a small amount, it can be difficult to negotiate without a skilled attorney by your side.
Without an attorney, you’ll have a very difficult time arguing that your slip and fall is the fault of the business and that you deserve a payout as a result. These organizations have lawyers of their own that work hard to protect their client’s interests. An attorney that understands the ins and outs of proving negligence and liability can argue on your behalf and present the facts as they occurred. Plus, the insurance company will take your case more seriously if you have legal representation.
The experience of slipping and falling and the injuries that result can have a devastating impact on your life. A lawyer can help you prove that your injury wasn’t your fault. With legal professionals on your side, you can heal and move forward knowing that justice has been served.
