Slip and fall accidents have the potential to impact every part of your life. Not only could you require extensive medical treatment, but these events could also jeopardize your ability to return to work or enjoy life in general.
Whenever these incidents occur on another party’s land, you need to consider your legal rights. This may include the right to demand that the land’s owner or their insurance company provide compensation for your losses.
Still, collecting these payments requires you to prove that the landowner was responsible for the accident. A slip and fall accident lawyer from our firm can take the lead in this process.
We Specialize in Helping Injured People Collect Compensation
Slips and falls can be serious. Even a short trip to the ground can result in injuries that require extensive medical attention and can threaten a person’s ability to earn a living.
A landowner that is responsible for an event that ends in an injury is liable under the law to provide appropriate compensation. However, it is only when an injured person is able to prove the extent of their losses that this compensation is possible.
Some recoverable damages in your case could include:
Medical Bills
All parties that are responsible for personal injuries that arise out of accidents must provide reimbursement for the costs of all necessary medical care. Slips and falls are no exception to this rule. These costs may include:
- Emergency room treatment
- The ambulance ride
- Surgery
- Hospitalization
- Medications
- Chiropractic care
- Physical therapy
An attorney could gather the medical bills and records necessary to connect physical injuries to a slip and fall.
Lost Income
Whenever another party is responsible for an incident that results in you missing work, you can seek compensation for lost income. Hiring a lawyer could let our office contact your work directly to obtain timesheets that indicate missed shifts.
Lost Quality of Life
Slips and falls can impact more than just a person’s physical health. Their emotional well-being may also suffer. If you find that you are having nightmares, flashbacks, or other mental health concerns connected to the incident, you can seek out payments for this lost quality of life.
It is essential to be able to prove these concepts quickly. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003 is the state’s statute of limitations. This law says that you will have no more than two years from the date of the fall to demand compensation through a lawsuit. An attorney with our firm can help to meet this crucial deadline.
Slip-and-Fall Accidents Qualify as Premises Liability Cases
A general rule under state law says that landowners have a duty to protect visitors on their land. Demonstrating this concept is essential to being able to collect fair payments for your losses.
State law separates visitors into one of two categories. Each of these categories comes with its own protection under the law. These categories are:
Licensees
Licensees enter land for their own benefits. The landowner gives them permission, usually for a social gathering. Barbecues or birthday parties are clear examples. Here, the landowner must regularly inspect their land for defects.
Invitees
Invitees enter land for a business purpose or for the benefit of the property owner. Commercial properties, such as shopping malls or stores, fall under this category.
Landowners inviting invitees onto their land must inspect the land for defects as well as warn guests of any known unsafe conditions. A slip and fall accident lawyer with our firm can provide more information about your rights as a guest on another’s land.
How Comparative Negligence Applies to Your Case
One common argument that landowners and their insurance companies may try to make is that you were partially to blame for the incident. They could argue that you were wearing improper footwear, were running on their land, or that you ignored a warning sign.
These arguments are effective because of the state law called modified comparative negligence. According to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §33.001, landowners can argue that your own negligence caused your injuries–not theirs.
Your award will be reduced depending on your role in the accident. If this percentage rises to 50 or more, you will not be able to receive compensation.
We can help establish the property owner’s liability to secure damages.
Suffering an Injury While Visiting Someone’s Land May Entitle You to Compensation
All landowners have a duty to protect invited guests on their land. However, the extent of this duty depends on the guests’ reasons for being there. Still, suffering a slip and fall may entitle you to compensation for your losses. This can include payments for the costs of all necessary medical care, reimbursement for lost wages, and compensation for your lost quality of life.
An Irving slip and fall accident lawyer may be able to help you pursue these payments. The legal professionals at Loncar Lyon Jenkins help people throughout the Irving and Dallas areas to protect their legal rights after they suffer injuries.
We are prepared to provide a free consultation during which we will listen to your side of the story and decide if your case has merit.
Contact Our Attorneys Today for Help
There is a limited time to act after a slip and fall, and moving quickly could secure your right to seek compensation. Call in the Strong Arm today to see how we are ready to fight for you.
