Accidents will happen, and the most common ones outside of automobile accidents are slip and fall cases. These can happen anywhere, whether you are walking down the sidewalk or through a department store. Although it is easy to assume that if you slip/trip and fall on someone else’s property that you have a case, that is not always true.
To prevail in a slip/trip and fall case, four very important elements must be proven. They are:
- Duty on the part of the defendant: It must be proven that the defendant owned, controlled, and/or operated the premises where you fell.
- Notice: You must prove that the defendant knew or should have known of the condition that could cause harm to the public.
- Dangerous condition: The condition that caused you harm was dangerous and not just a “minor” defect.
- Damages: You suffered injuries as a result of the dangerous condition.
Failure to prove any one of these elements can doom your case and prevent you from recovering any compensation.
If you’ve tripped, slipped and fallen on someone’s premises and have experienced measurable pain, it is best to document the conditions as best as possible and seek treatment right away. You are better off being prepared for the worst (in the event that your injury leads to mounting medical bills, missing work time and worse) than to take it easy and brush it off as if nothing happened. Unfortunately, many people are not prepared for cases like these, but just a little awareness can go a long way to making sure you get the compensation you need and deserve.
If you have suffered a slip and fall then you shouldn’t have to pay your medical bills. What you really need is a lawyer to help you gather information and build your case. If you slipped, fell, and need representation, contact us today. Click here to find out more!