Slip and fall accidents are a leading cause of physical injury and death worldwide, including in the United States. According to official accident and injury statistics, nearly fifty thousand people die each year because of these unfortunate incidents across the United States. Over 200,000 slips and falls each year result in lasting physical injury and incapacitation that requires extensive medical and surgical treatment and physical or occupational rehabilitation to return to normal functioning.
Such accidents are highly unpredictable and can occur at any place or time. Properties that see high foot traffic each day, including residential apartment complexes, commercial or government buildings, restaurants, airports, construction sites, and office buildings see a high proportion of such accidents. Most of these result from egregious lapses in public safety standards that create dangerous circumstances for slip and fall accidents to occur. If it is found that the incident happened due to negligence on the part of the property owner or another party, you can file a personal injury lawsuit to claim damages in a court of law.
Why Slip and Fall Accidents Occur
A slip and fall at an apartment complex can be attributed to a vast number of safety hazards, including poor lighting conditions, uneven staircase steps, damaged floors, missing guardrails, slippery or wet surfaces, open potholes, tripping hazards, and more.
Most safety hazards that lead to such accidents at apartment buildings are preventable with appropriate maintenance and periodic safety checks, both of which are duties of care that fall under the purview of apartment or property ownership. Any incident that occurs under such circumstances due to the negligence of the property owner can be used to establish liability in a personal injury lawsuit.
Establishing Liability in Apartment Slip and Fall Accidents
Apartment complexes are public or private buildings that owe their residents, guests, and visitors a duty of care. According to this principle, all property owners are responsible for creating and maintaining safe living and visiting conditions at their property. The aforementioned public safety hazard that causes a slip and fall accident directly breaches this duty of care and can be used to establish liability in a court of law.
To establish liability in a slip and fall lawsuit, it is fair to assume that the apartment owner or management either had or should have had adequate knowledge of the safety hazards that led to your slip and fall. The property owner can be held liable for negligence if it is proved that they did not take adequate measures to remedy the danger to public safety.
An additional component of any lawsuit of this type is proving damages resulting from the accident, including physical, financial, and emotional damages. While these damages might vary depending on the individual circumstances of a slip and fall accident, the amount can be significant, especially when costs of medical and surgical treatment, ongoing rehabilitation, lost wages, and incidental expenses add up.
Conclusion
If you or your loved one incurred a serious physical injury in a slip and fall accident, you can contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to pursue a lawsuit against the negligent property owner. A skilled attorney experienced in this area can help formulate a winning strategy, which can get you fair financial compensation for your injuries and related incidental damages.
