Businesses Premises Liability explained by Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyer Cantor Crane”
February 9, 2016 — by William Crossett
Today’s topic written by Aaron Crane, an experienced personal injury lawyer in Phoenix at Cantor Crane deals with slip and fall injuries and liability of businesses slip and falls on their premises. Slip and fall injuries can happen at any moment. One minute you are walking confidently around you friend’s property or a department store, the next thing you know you are on the floor writhing in pain.
Slip and Fall Injury Statistics
According to the National Floor Safety Institute, slip and fall injuries account for approximately 8 million visits to hospital emergency rooms each year. Here are other facts about slip and fall injuries that may be of interest to you.
- Improper flooring and loose mats account for approximately 2 million injuries each year.
- Women tend to experience slip and fall injuries more than men.
- Approximately 85 percent of workers’ compensation claims involve slip and fall accidents.
As you can tell from these statistics, slip and fall injuries are prevalent in our society. Whether these injuries are caused by an individual’s clumsiness or negligence of a business, slip and fall incidents are serious business.
Not only can they cause permanent damage, slip and fall injuries can lead to death. The most vulnerable victims of slip and fall injuries are senior citizens and children.
Slip and Fall Injury Liability Explained
According to personal injury lawyers, a person is the victim of a slip and fall accident because they are exposed to dangers and hazards on another person’s property. Examples of common hazardous conditions include icy sidewalks and parking lots, poorly lit facilities and standing water on the floor.
Business Liability
Companies have the legal responsibility to keep their facilities safe for their customers and employees, known as premises liability. Business owners and managers must make every effort to minimize the risks of slip and fall incidents in their buildings.
When a person is the victim of a slip and fall injury at a business, the onus is on them to prove the company’s negligence caused the injury. Personal injury lawyers who represent slip and fall victims must prove:
- The owner was aware of the dangerous condition, but they did nothing to fix the condition.
- The owner caused the hazardous conditions that led to the slip and fall accident, and the slip and fall was a foreseeable incident because of the conditions.
Slip and fall cases are not cut and dry. If presented with a lawsuit, the business owner’s attorney could argue that you were the cause of the slip and fall injury. Litigating against another party in a slip and fall case is a challenging task. That is the reason you need to consult with experienced personal injury lawyers.
Common Slip and Fall Injuries
When a person falls as a result of the negligence of another party, there can be serious consequences. Although most injuries are not life-threatening, some slip and fall injuries can severely impact the quality of life for the victim. Here are the most common slip and fall injuries.
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Slipped disc
- Broken back
- Torn ligaments and tendons
- Broken hips
In some instances, recovery from a slip and fall accident can take months of physical rehabilitation and hospitalization. In a small percentage of cases, slip and fall victims never completely recover from their injuries.
Seeking Compensation for Slip and Fall Injuries
If you have been injured as a result of a slip and fall accident, it is understandable for you to seek financial compensation for your pain and suffering. After all, slip and fall injuries can cause you to lose compensation from work. You may also have high medical bills as a result of the injuries. If your injuries require long-term care, you will have expenses associated with recovery.
The first action you must take is consult a reputable attorney who has experience representing people with slip and fall injuries. Contact an experienced Arizona attorney who can evaluate your case to determine the extent of the liability of the other party. Contact Cantor Crane today at (602) 254-2701.