Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere—including a sidewalk. Whether your incident was a public sidewalk or on private property, you might be able to recover compensation for your injuries.
Before you ever accept a settlement offer or file a lawsuit, you could strengthen your case by learning what these cases entail. Keep reading for everything you need to know about sidewalk accident injuries.
Sidewalk Accidents Can Lead to Severe Injuries
Some of the most severe injuries in a sidewalk accident involve head trauma. When a person falls and strikes their head on the pavement, they could fracture their skull. These accidents could also lead to concussions or other traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Other injuries that are common in these accidents include:
- Broken bones
- Eye injuries
- Cuts and bruises
- Strains
- Bruised ribs
These injuries could have long-lasting consequences. In many cases, medical care could be necessary for the rest of your life. Even injuries that eventually heal could require ongoing physical therapy.
Certain injuries could also lead to chronic pain and other medical conditions. For example, if you suffered nerve damage in a fall, you could face chronic pain for the rest of your life. It is crucial for you to seek immediate medical treatment following a sidewalk accident.
Different Parties Could Be Responsible for Your Injury
There could be different parties liable for a sidewalk accident. Sidewalks are typically on public property, making the government potentially liable for a fall. These accidents can also take place on sidewalks located on private property.
When a sidewalk accident occurs on private property, the owner of that property could be responsible for any injuries that occur. Financial compensation could be available, but only if the injured party can show their accident was due to negligence.
Your Accident Could Result in Different Types of Compensation
There might be different types of financial compensation available following a sidewalk accident. If you can demonstrate that the owner of the sidewalk was negligent in their duty to protect you from an injury, you could be entitled to recover various damages. These damages generally fall into two categories: economic and non-economic.
Economic Damages You Can Pursue in a Sidewalk Accident Case
Economic damages allow you to return to the financial position you found yourself in before the accident. These damages could pay for:
- Past and future medical care costs
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
Because economic damages provide for specific monetary losses, you might be able to build your case on documentary evidence, like receipts and invoices.
You Could Also Recover Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are not related to your financial losses stemming from your accident. Instead, these damages are intended to compensate you for the losses that are difficult to measure. Subjective losses could include things like your physical pain and suffering, disfigurement, or the loss of consortium.
Collecting a Fair Settlement for Your Sidewalk Accident Injuries
While it might be necessary to pursue legal action to recover compensation for your injuries, it is helpful to understand that most of these cases will never go to trial.
Settlements might be common, but you should always carefully consider an offer before accepting. What might seem like a reasonable offer at first could be inadequate following careful scrutiny.
Insurance companies understand that many people injured in a sidewalk accident have little experience resolving a personal injury case. For that reason, insurers may push lowball offers immediately after an accident. Your attorney could prevent you from settling your case for less than it is worth.
What a Premises Liability Lawyer Can Do for You After Your Sidewalk Accident
While you heal from your sidewalk accident injuries, a lawyer can pursue the other party for your damages.
On your behalf, they could:
- Obtain evidence
- Speak to your medical team
- Document the extent of your injuries
- Name the liable party or parties
- Maintain communication with the other party
- Comply with state deadlines, such as Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003
- Lead settlement talks
If they can’t settle your case out of court, your lawyer will represent you in legal proceedings.
Our Attorneys Could Help You Recover Compensation After a Sidewalk Accident
These are only a few things you need to know about sidewalk accident injuries. For a better understanding of what you might expect from an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit, it could benefit you to discuss your case with a lawyer at our firm.
The attorneys of Loncar Lyon Jenkins could work to build a case following your sidewalk accident claim or lawsuit. Our team could identify the appropriate defendants in your case and help you hold them accountable. Call in the Strong Arm today, and connect with by phone or online to start your free consultation.
