Slip-and-fall accidents can happen to anyone. No matter your age or body type, these types of accidents do not discriminate, and the damage they cause can be severe. The victim of a slip-and-fall accident should not bear the brunt of the damages, especially if another party is at fault for their injuries.
A Columbia personal injury lawyer at Shelly Leeke Law Firm can provide victims with the guidance needed to receive the justice and compensation they deserve.
Slip-and-Fall Accident Statistics
Slip-and-fall accidents can happen anywhere and at any time, including the workplace. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 5,000 fatal work injuries happen annually. Among those deadly work injuries are slip-and-fall accidents.
Those not fatally injured by a slip-and-fall accident can face serious short-term and long-term injuries.
Common Types of Slip-and-Fall Accidents
Not only can slip-and-fall accidents happen on the job, but they can occur in a public place, like a supermarket, movie theater, or restaurant. While these types of accidents can occur anytime, they are preventable. It is essential to be mindful of the common types of slip-and-fall accidents and what can cause them, including the following:
- Wet floors
- Poor lighting
- Accidents that take place on an elevator or escalator
- Ice or snow
- Floors that are in disrepair
- Cracked sidewalks that are not level
- Materials on floors that make the surface slippery and prone to accidents
Gathering evidence is critical to winning a slip-and-fall case and receiving compensation. Evidence can help a slip-and-fall victim prove that the at-fault party’s negligence caused the accident. A slip-and-fall accident lawyer in Columbia can assess the situation, review the evidence, and provide the victim with the best next steps to take.
How to Prove Negligence in a Slip-and-Fall Case
Proving negligence in a slip-and-fall case is the most important step. For a victim to be compensated by the party at fault for the slip-and-fall accident, they must prove negligence for that to happen. If negligence cannot be proven, the case is like a stool with no legs. It will not stand up in court.
Several factors must be considered when proving negligence in a slip-and-fall case, including the following:
- The owner of the property where the accident occurred owed the victim a duty of care.
- The property owner failed to fulfill this duty of care.
- The owner of the property’s failure to provide a duty of care resulted in the victim’s fall and injuries.
- As a result of the slip-and-fall accident, the victim has monetary damages for which they need to be compensated.
A Columbia slip-and-fall accident attorney is a fantastic resource that victims should rely on to gather the necessary evidence to prove negligence. Having a lawyer with this unique skill set in your corner can be the difference between winning and losing a case.
How Long a Slip-and-Fall Claim Can Take
After filing a slip-and-fall claim, it is natural to wonder how long the process will take. In many cases, three to six months is typical. However, it depends on various factors, including the insurance company cooperating with the victim’s Columbia slip-and-fall accident lawyer. The timeline may be extended if the insurance adjuster is not open to giving a victim’s case fair treatment.
Contentious claims are usually resolved between six and 18 months. However, they can go as long as 24 to 36 months, depending on the details of the case that is being debated. With this in mind, having the guidance of a slip-and-fall accident lawyer in Columbia can help victims get through this process as quickly as possible to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion.
When You Should Hire a Columbia Slip-and-Fall Accident Attorney
Being involved in a slip-and-fall accident is no laughing matter. It can turn a person’s life upside down, resulting in an inability to work, a pile of bills, serious injuries, and emotional distress. First and foremost, victims should seek medical treatment and be evaluated by their primary doctor to understand what is going on.
After going to your doctor and following their orders, consulting with a Columbia slip-and-fall accident attorney is a crucially important next step. It is vital to work with an attorney with a successful track record. But it is equally important to find one who you feel comfortable with and who will guide you through the entire process, including mistakes to avoid.
Mistakes to Avoid in a Slip-and-Fall Case
There are so many potential mistakes that victims of slip-and-fall accidents can make, so they must avoid them at all costs. Failure to avoid these common pitfalls can have a negative impact on a slip-and-fall victim’s settlement. For example, one of the most common mistakes victims make is not gathering evidence at the scene of the slip-and-fall accident.
Victims sometimes fail to preserve the evidence, which is just as bad. If you are going to take the time to gather evidence, you must protect it so it can be used to justify a settlement or at a trial. Failure to seek immediate medical attention is another mistake because a doctor’s medical report and the associated prescriptions, bills, and receipts can be critical in proving injuries and damages.
Not having this information will only work against the victim, not in their favor. Failing to seek immediate medical attention also sends the wrong message. It makes it seem as though no injuries were sustained.
A slip-and-fall accident attorney in Columbia can help victims sidestep pitfalls to avoid making mistakes that harm their case.
Contact Shelly Leeke Law Firm for a Columbia Slip-and-Fall Accident Attorney
There is only one option for those who find themselves a victim of a slip-and-fall accident in Columbia. They need to speak with a Columbia slip-and-fall accident attorney at the Shelly Leeke Law Firm. We help victims and families ready to move forward after an accident by getting them the compensation they deserve.
If you are the victim of a slip-and-fall accident in Columbia, contact us today so we can help you.
