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Benefits of Hiring a Slip and Fall Attorney – Cochran Law

Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran

Slip and fall accidents can be very serious and can cause injuries that lead to long periods off work. Fall incidents are the leading cause of visits to emergency rooms, and of the 8 million emergency room visits due to falls,more than 1 million of them were slip and fall incidents.

But given that the majority of slip and fall accidents are settled without going to trial, is there actually any benefit in hiring a personal injury lawyer to represent you?

Ten Slip and Fall Facts

  • With more than 1 million slip and fall accidents per year, that is around 2 thousand emergency room visits every day.
  • The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) put the average hospital cost of slip and fall accidents at more than $30,000. Slip and fall accidents due to snow and ice cost an average of $33,000 to $48,000. These costs can place financial burdens on families, lead to rises in insurance premiums, and cost the nation millions of workdays every year.
  • If you have a slip and fall accident, there is a 5% chance you will break a bone. And there are severe injuries in some 20-30% of cases.
  • Age can be a major factor. Around 33% of adults over 65 will fall each year. And more than 60% of nursing home residents will fall each year.
  • Slip and fall accidents do not only pose a risk to the elderly. This type of accident is the most common cause of injury for every age group except those aged 10-24 (2nd most common for them).
  • 95% of all hip fractures are caused by falls. This type of fracture can be devastating for any age group but particularly for older people.
  • Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries. Many People do not realize that even a simple fall can lead to severe head trauma.
  • Victims of a slip and fall accident miss an average of 11 days of work.
  • The medical costs of slip and fall accidents comes out at around $34 billion every year. Unpaid medical bills are one of the nation’s leading causes of bankruptcy.
  • One statistic that surprises many people is that only about 2% of slip and fall cases go to trial. Worrying about appearing in court and the legal process often makes people hesitant to pursue a slip and fall claim but knowing these statistics can make them reconsider that hesitation.

Liability

Generally speaking, we identify 2 types of liability in slip and fall cases. We would attribute blame to carelessness where the liable party left a hazard in a location where it was likely to cause an accident.

The other type of liability is negligence. This could happen in a commercial premises where the owners or operators failed to take steps to rectify a hazard such as worn carpet or a broken sidewalk.

personal injury Slip and Fall cases

Comparative Liability

Michigan applies comparative liability law in personal injury cases. What that means to you is that if your case does go to court and the jury awards damages, then they may consider if you were partly liable for the accident. If they decide you were, then they apportion a percentage of blame and you lose that percentage from the awarded economic damages. If they decide you were more than 50% at fault, then you will not receive any damages. You are also barred from pursuing non-economic damages.

One very important fact to remember is that comparative liability can play a part in any non-court settlement. If the liable party’s insurance company believes that you contributed to the accident then they will reflect that belief in their offer.

What You Can Claim For

As with other personal injury cases, there are certain things seen as standard when pursuing a claim.

  • Any incurred medical bills and any required future medical costs.
  • Loss of wages due to the injury
  • Loss of earning capacity if the injury prevents you resuming the same role or having to move to a role at a lower salary. This aspect of damages may also include payments – or a lump sum – to allow for retraining or vocational rehabilitation.
  • Pain and suffering or loss of quality of life. If your injuries have led to chronic and ongoing pain, or if they have resulted in some loss in the quality of your life, then a pain and suffering element may be added to the damages. The amount of compensation awarded for this aspect can vary greatly.
  • Additional expenses. If your injury incurs incidental spending, such as transport costs to a physiotherapist, then this can also be factored into any settlement.

Why Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer?

In many cases, you will never need the services of an experienced personal injury attorney. But in many more cases, your personal injury claim could encounter hurdles and complications. A slip and fall attorney from our team at Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. can help and represent you in a number of ways.

  • Case evaluation and investigation. Looking at all pertinent factors and identifying any liable party.
  • Evidence collection. Compiling all your medical bills and records as well as gathering expert testimony if needed to show the extent of your injuries and their effects on your life.
  • Negotiations with insurance company. Everyone knows that insurance companies will nearly always lowball with initial settlement offers. With the experience of one of our slip and fall accident attorneys, we can challenge low offers and fight for a reasonable settlement.

The Takeaway

Slip and fall accidents are far more serious than most people think. The costs in medical bills and lost workdays are astronomical yet so many of these incidents could be avoided by more stringent inspection and repair policies. But if you have been affected by a slip and fall accident, you want to know that you will receive the amount of compensation you are entitled to.

The law firm of Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. specializes in personal injury cases and have successfully won thousands of slip and fall cases. We believe in building a strong attorney client relationship so we offer a free no obligation consultation to evaluate your case and to allow you to ask any questions. If you would like to book an appointment, contact us by calling 866-MICH-LAW. Our law firm never charges a fee unless we win your case.

Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.

Steve is a former criminal justice worker. With degrees in psychology and social work, he spent most of his life helping those with addiction issues before switching to criminal justice. He was responsible for writing court reports and advising judges on sentencing. He also supervised offenders, including sex offenders, in the community and carried out risk assessments and probation appraisals. He now lives in SE Asia and is working on his 5th novel.

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