How Can Fall Victims Recover?

According to the National Safety Council, emergency rooms in the United States treat an estimated 8.9 million people for injuries sustained in fall accidents. Such falls include slips, trips, falls down stairs, or falls from other heights. Fall victims commonly suffer serious injuries that require substantial medical treatment, including broken bones, neck or back injuries, spinal cord injuries, concussions or other traumatic brain injuries, and more.

Some falls occur because a person is simply clumsy, and those accidents are no one’s fault. In other situations, however, falls happen because another party acted in a negligent manner. If a fall is caused by negligence, injured victims have the legal right to recover for all of their losses from the liable party.

Premises liability claims

Property owners have the legal duty to inspect and maintain their property so it is reasonably safe for visitors. When a property owner fails to make proper repairs or provide warnings of possibly dangerous conditions and you suffer an injury as a result, the owner will likely be found negligent and responsible for your losses. Examples of negligence that cause falls may include:

• Stairs that are too steep, slippery, worn, or otherwise dangerous;
• Loose or broken railings;
• Wet or slippery floors; or
• Tripping hazards, such as debris, cords, or other objects.

If you fall on stairs or from other heights on someone else’s property because the property owner negligently allows a dangerous condition to exist, you can hold that owner responsible by filing a premises liability claim.

Products liability claim

In some circumstances, falls occur due to defective products. For example, in recent months, several news stories have reported children around the United States falling from second story windows and suffering serious injuries. Many of these falls occur because the screens used in the windows are defective and break or pop out of the frame. Additionally, many people fall due to defective ladders, step stools, or similar items.

Companies have a duty to design and manufacture products that are safe for use by consumers. If a company sells a defective screen, railing, or other product and you fall as a result, you can hold that company responsible by filing a products liability claim.

If you or your child has fallen and suffered injury due to some type of dangerous condition on another person’s property or due to a defective product, you deserve full compensation for all of your injury-related losses. Such losses may include financial losses such as medical expenses or lost wages, as well as non-economic losses like pain and suffering and emotional trauma. Florida law only allows you a certain amount of time to file a legal claim, so you should not delay in discussing a potential case with an experienced personal injury attorney.

At the law office of Lavalle Brown & Ronan in Boca Raton, our attorneys are committed to helping victims of falls or other accidents receive the maximum amount of compensation for their injuries. If you have been in an accident, call us today for a free consultation.

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