Slip And Fall Lawyer Kansas City
There are times when, without any warnings, your feet slip out, and you accidentally land on the hard, unforgiving surface. In most cases, these types of accidents are the leading cause of emergency room visits in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in every slip and fall accident causes a severe injury. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, and you think you might have a case, then consult a slip and fall lawyer.
If you are injured in a slip and fall accident, it could take months for you to recover fully, and you might never fully recover to your normal function. Additionally, the medical expenses can add significant worry and stress to your case.
Bear in mind that if the slip and fall accident took place on someone else’s property, and if you feel that the injury wasn’t your fault, you won’t have to cover the costs yourself.
Under the law, property owners must always maintain a safe environment. Otherwise, they might be held responsible for a victim’s damages. You should expect the owner to avoid liability by stating that they were unaware of the unsafe, hazardous condition or that the accident was the victim’s fault.
Common Injuries in Slip and Fall Accidents
In the United States, over 3 million people aged 65 or older are treated annually in emergency departments for fall injuries. Over 800,000 people are hospitalized because of such accidents, suffering head injuries or hip fractures. Slip and fall accidents happen when there is floor debris, improper drainage, ladders, ice, snow, or uneven paths. The injuries can be severe and sometimes fatal. The most common injuries suffered in slip and fall accidents include:
- dislocations
- serious contusions
- traumatic brain injuries
- spinal cord injuries
- broken bones (mainly hips or pelvis)
- lacerations
Most of these injuries require immediate medical care, therapy, or other treatments. For example, traumatic brain injuries can cause long-lasting or permanent impairments that affect the victim’s ability to get back to work or perform basic daily activities.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident?
If you or someone you love is involved in a slip and fall accident due to an unsafe environment, you might consider taking legal actions against the property’s owner. If you choose to seek medical attention but not file a claim or take any legal action, the owner won’t know that you suffered a slip and fall injury on their property.
With the proper legal representation, you might recover your lost wages, medical expenses or prevent others from injuring themselves on that property. As one might expect, the defendant might state that the victim’s negligence contributed to the accident. When reporting and documenting a slip and fall accident, here is what you should know.
- The main thing you need to do is report the accident to the property’s landlord. The landlord will show you their paperwork after the accident occurs. Get a copy of the provided paperwork before leaving the premises. After leaving your premises, do not have any further contact with the landlord or their insurance company, as they might try to get a statement from you.
- Take pictures. It is recommended you document the accident as soon as possible as it will strengthen your case. The pictures could be used as evidence.
- Seek medical care. By getting proper medical attention and attention to all your medical appointments, you will increase your chances of getting compensation for your injuries.
- Get witness information if possible. If someone has seen you fall or slip, get their name, address, and phone number, as they could help you settle your injury claims.
- Hire a slip and fall lawyer. Slip and fall cases can be tough to litigate, as the fault is not always clear-cut, and the owner might fight and argue that your clumsiness caused the fall.
It is essential to know that if you want to file a slip and fall accident in court, you must do so within two years of the date of the injury in Kansas, and five years from the date of injury in Missouri. When it comes to filing a claim against a government entity, you must provide the city notice within 90 days of the date of the injury.
To successfully file your slip and fall claim, you should prove that:
- The property owner has a legal duty to maintain a safe environment for visitors or warn them of dangerous conditions.
- The owner or the company failed to make the property safe.
- The breach by the property owner caused you to suffer injuries.
Types of Compensation You Might Be Entitled To in a Slip and Fall Accident
By gathering enough evidence, you can create a strong argument why you should get compensation for your slip and fall injuries. Depending on the severity of your slip and fall accident, you could be entitled to compensation for multiple damages.
Medical Expenses
In a slip and fall accident, the first thing you’ll want to recover is your medical expense. Severe injuries could require extensive treatment, time in the hospital, surgical interventions, different forms of rehabilitative therapy, and home healthcare. Additionally, you might get compensation for future estimated medical costs.
Lost wages
In most cases, the victims of slip and fall accidents might not be able to work for some time. For both your lost income and future earning potential, you deserve to get compensation.
Non-economic damages
Separately to economic damages, you might be able to receive considerable compensation for intangible losses, such as emotional distress, pain, and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent disfigurement or disability.
Punitive damages
In rare cases, a Missouri court may award you with punitive damages. They are designed by tort law and apply if the property owner’s behavior is willfully reckless.
Personal property replacement
If any of your personal items of value were damaged during your fall, you could be entitled to get the money needed for their repair or replacement.
Why You Should Seek The Assistance of a Kansas City Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer
When you come to RKB LAW, LLC with a case, one of our attorneys will help you take action against the property owner responsible for your slip and fall. A slip and fall attorney will document and consider all the options to fight for the best possible compensation. If you were partially negligent in the accident, your compensation might be reduced by your percentage of negligence. For example, if you have been found negligent by 20%, your compensation will be reduced by 20%.
By hiring our Kansas City personal injury attorneys, you will ensure reliable and trustworthy representation. We will guide you in every step, and we will do whatever it takes to prove the owner’s liability for the unsafe conditions. We will maximize your settlement, including all the medical expenses and the lost income. With the right law team on your side, you can significantly improve your odds of winning your case. Contact us at (816) 813-8256 and schedule a free consultation as soon as possible.