Nashville Slip and Fall Lawyer

According to the CDC, one out of every five falls results in a serious injury, such as head trauma or broken bones. The elderly are particularly vulnerable to slip and fall injuries, with many requiring hospitalization. A slip and fall injury caused by the negligence of another can result in lost wages and out-of-pocket expenses, temporary or chronic pain, temporary or permanent disability, reduced quality of life, depression, and even death. The National Floor Safety Institute asserts the following facts regarding slip and fall accidents:

• Slip and fall accidents account for more than one million ER visits annually.
• Fractures are the most serious consequence of slip and fall accidents.
• Floors and flooring materials contribute directly to more than two million fall injuries each year.
• Eighty-five percent of all workers’ comp claims are attributed to an employee slipping on a slick floor.
• Medical costs and other compensation associated with employee slip and fall accidents is more than $70 billion annually.

Due to the substantial physical, emotional, and financial toll a severe fall can have an someone, it is important for claimants to seek guidance from a Nashville slip and fall lawyer. An experienced injury attorney could help file a claim for damages and provide guidance throughout the litigation process.

How Slip and Falls Occur

If you suffer a fall in a public place, you may have a claim against the owner of the property. The public must always receive warnings of any existing hazards when they are on the property. In some cases, even a relatively minor slip and fall can result in extensive injury. In turn, the injury may prohibit you from returning to work, meaning you are unable to pay your normal monthly expenses, and the medical expenses you face can mount quickly. There are a number of issues associated with a slip and fall accident, including:

• Rugs which are unsecured;
• Rain or snow-soaked entrances with no hazard sign;
• Spilled liquids which should reasonably have been cleaned;
• Steps which are loose or broken;
• Store items which are stacked unreasonably high;
• Uneven walking surfaces, or flooring surfaces that are not level;
• Walkways filled with obstacles;
• Extension cords stretched across a walkway;
• Freshly mopped flooring with no hazard sign;
• Torn carpeting; or
• Staircases which are poorly lit or overly steep and/or narrow.

People who suffer devastating falls due to hazards on another’s property should speak with a local attorney about holding the property owner liable under premises liability law.

 Where Do Falling Accidents Happen?

Slip and fall injuries may occur in public areas, at a private residence, or in the workplace. The primary places our attorneys see slip and fall accidents occur in Nashville include:

• Restaurants;
• Stairways;
• Malls;
• Grocery stores;
• Swimming pool areas;
• Nightclubs;
• Areas surrounding construction sites;
• Escalators, elevators or moving sidewalks; and
• Parking lots

What Should You Do If You Suffer a Serious Fall ?

Of course, nobody plans to be hurt in a falling accident. When the unexpected happens, you are likely to be scared and confused—you may not know exactly what you should do first. What you do following a slip and fall injury can impact your ability to obtain a fair recovery for your losses—the following can be helpful when you have suffered a Nashville slip and fall injury:

• Seek medical attention. Not only does this ensure you receive the care you need, but it also documents your injuries as a first step in building your slip and fall case. Even if you think you are “fine” following your slip and fall, you should be aware that the adrenaline rush your body experiences during an accident can often mask injury symptoms.
• Make sure there is an official report of your slip and fall. If you fall in a grocery store, report the fall to the manager on duty. If you fall while in a small shop the owner may be the person you will report your fall to.
• If you are medically able, take photos of the scene. Make sure you get plenty of photos, including the exact place where you fell, the area around the place of injury, and, most particularly, the cause of your slip and fall.
• If there were witnesses to your fall, obtain witness contact information. Your attorney will be able to contact these witnesses to obtain a detailed statement.
• Once you have received medical attention, write everything down. As soon as you are able, sit down and compose a narrative of exactly what happened prior to your slip and fall, as well as afterward. Include every detail, even those you do not believe are all that important.
• Speak to an experienced slip and fall attorney as quickly as possible. It will always be the goal of the insurance company to pay you as little as possible. Because statements you make could be taken out of context and misconstrued, it is important that you not talk any more than necessary until you have discussed your slip and fall claim with your attorney.

What you do immediately following your slip and fall can turn out to be crucial to your claim. The sooner you speak to a qualified personal injury attorney, the better the outcome of your slip and fall is likely to be.

How is Liability Assessed in Nashville?

No matter where your slip and fall accident occurred, the owner of the property may be held liable if it is established there was negligence that led to the accident. If there is a hazard that is reasonably known by the owner or supervisory staff, yet there was no sign advising of the hazard, then the owner could be liable for your injuries.

Property owners must exhibit reasonable care—suppose a shopper spills a soda, and one or two employees pass by the spill without cleaning it up or placing a hazard sign. In this instance, if you suffered a slip and fall from the spilled liquid, there was no reasonable care, making the owner liable for your injuries. Conversely, if soda is spilled, and seconds later, you slip in the liquid and fall, the owner may not be liable because there was not sufficient time for the spill to be discovered.

Contact a Nashville Slip and Fall Accident Attorney

If you are the victim of a slip and fall, it could be extremely beneficial to contact The Law Offices of Kyle Peiter and speak to me, Kyle Peiter. I will look carefully at the facts and circumstances related to your slip and fall, then will present your options. I will work to gather evidence to prove the owner of the property exhibited negligence, and prove that the negligence exhibited was directly responsible for the slip and fall accident as well as the resulting injuries.

I am a self-starter, with years of foundational experience, and will always go the extra mile for my clients. I believe in justice and understand that many people fail to get the justice they deserve when facing a wealthy insurance company. You will deal with me directly, from start to finish. Contact us today for a consultation with a Nashville slip and fall accident lawyer.