As an expert in personal injury law, I have seen countless cases of slips and falls that have resulted in physical, emotional, and financial harm to the victims. These types of accidents can happen anywhere and at any time, and they can have serious consequences. That's why it's important for victims to understand their rights and seek compensation through a personal injury claim. A trip and fall accident occurs when someone catches an object with their foot or shoe and falls forward suddenly. These accidents can happen for a variety of reasons, such as slipping on a wet floor, falling from a faulty ladder, or tripping over uneven ground.
Unfortunately, these incidents are all too common and can result in serious injuries. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else's property, you may be able to file a property liability lawsuit against the owner or occupant of the property. However, whether or not you can receive compensation will depend on your condition at the time of the accident and whether the owner or occupant took reasonable care to prevent slips and falls on their property. Globally, falls are a major public health issue, with an estimated 684,000 fatal falls occurring each year. This makes them the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths, after traffic accidents. The majority of fall-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, with the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia regions accounting for 60% of these fatalities.
Additionally, adults over the age of 60 are at the highest risk for fall-related deaths in all regions of the world. As a legal expert, I know that having a strong legal team by your side can make all the difference in resolving your case quickly and ensuring that you receive the compensation you deserve. Health care providers can also play a role in reducing the risk of falls by addressing the risk factors that contribute to these accidents. However, sometimes falls are simply unavoidable due to hazardous conditions. For example, a wet floor can become a tripping hazard and cause someone to fall and get injured.
In these cases, determining who is at fault can be difficult and may vary depending on the location and circumstances of the fall. If you are found to be more than 50% at fault for the accident, you will not be entitled to any compensation for your slip and fall. This means that the owner of the property will not be held responsible for your injuries. That's why it's crucial to have a personal injury attorney on your side if you have been injured in a slip or trip and fall accident. Globally, falls are responsible for more than 38 million DALYs (years of life adjusted for disability) each year, making them a leading cause of disability. As I mentioned earlier, winter weather can also contribute to an increase in slip and fall accidents.
The longer a floor remains wet, the more likely it is that the store owner knew or should have known about the hazardous surface and failed to warn customers or take precautions to prevent slips and falls. Tripping and falling accidents can also occur due to dangerous conditions such as objects sticking out of the ground or uneven surfaces. In these cases, it may be considered an unnatural build-up that makes the property owner responsible for compensating anyone who is injured as a result of a slip and fall. Additionally, if you are distracted while walking, such as looking at your phone, you may be more likely to trip and miss warning signs, which could result in shared responsibility for the fall. It's important to understand the difference between a slip and fall and a trip and fall accident, especially if you have been injured at work or on someone else's property. Whether your accident was a slip and fall or a trip and fall, you may have a premises liability claim if negligence was the direct cause of your injuries.
