Little Rock and Arkansas business owners are required to keep their properties in a reasonably safe condition, but they don’t always do so. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries when you slip and fall on another person’s property. Slippery surfaces, debris, and uneven flooring can all lead to devastating slip and fall or trip and fall injuries.
Discuss Your Slip and Fall Accident With a Little Rock Attorney
Attorney Tim Reed has extensive experience helping slip and fall victims recover the compensation they deserve. When you work with the Reed Firm, your case will receive personalized attention. After carefully reviewing your case, attorney Tim Reed will help you understand your legal options. Contact the Reed Firm today to schedule your free initial consultation.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Many slip and fall accidents are preventable. They happen because of a property owner’s negligence. When property owners don’t properly maintain their premises, guests and customers can slip or trip and fall, leading to serious injuries. Triggers for dangerous accidents may include the following:
- Wet floors
- Icy surfaces
- Hazards or obstructions in high-traffic areas
- Insufficient lighting
- Inadequately maintained floors, stairs, or handrails
- Uneven walkways
Slip and fall accidents occur anywhere, from retail locations to a friend’s or acquaintance’s home. These accidents occur in private and public settings, including the following:
- Restaurants
- Sidewalks
- Parking lots
- Construction sites
- Rental properties
- Private homes
- Entertainment venues
- Parks
- Retail stores
Injuries Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents
Unfortunately, the injuries caused by slip and fall accidents can be serious, requiring prolonged medical care. Some of the most common injuries include the following:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Soft tissue damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations, abrasions, and scrapes
- Hip fractures
- Knee injuries
Proving Liability in Little Rock, Arkansas
The proof required to prove liability in a premises case varies. For example, a homeowner owes to his or her guests a duty to warn of hidden dangers, whereas a business owner owes customers a more general duty to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition. Whether you’re a guest at someone’s home or a customer shopping at a local retail store, you must show:
- That the property owner owed you a duty
- That the property owner breached that duty
- That the property owner’s breach of duty (negligence) caused you damages
In a nutshell, victims must show that the owner was negligent and that the slip and fall accident caused their injuries.
What to Do If You’re Injured in a Slip and Fall Accident
Being involved in a slip and fall accident can be stressful. However, knowing what to do afterward can help you protect yourself and your rights while pursuing a personal injury claim.
After a slip and fall accident, if you can do so safely, take photos of the accident scene and the conditions that led to the accident, or have another person do so. For example, if you slip on a slippery floor or trip on an uneven surface, take a photo of the flooring that caused your accident.
You should also report the incident to an employee or the property owner and complete an incident report according to the business’s protocol, but note that the business owner or manager may try to clean up the dangerous condition quickly after the accident, making it difficult to prove that it caused you to slip and fall. That’s why it’s critical to take photos of the accident scene from several different angles if you can.
Call an ambulance if necessary and seek medical care, even if you think you might be okay. Undergoing a thorough medical evaluation is necessary to understand whether you are injured and the extent of your injuries. Further, by seeking medical attention, you will establish a medical record that can be used as evidence of the injuries you suffered as a result of the slip and fall accident. Take photos of your injuries as well.
Write down everything you remember, including the full names and numbers of witnesses, employees, or managers who witnessed or were aware of the accident. It can be difficult to remember details once you’ve gotten home from the hospital, so try to write down everything you remember as soon as you can.
Proving the Severity of Your Injuries in Little Rock
Even if you don’t think your injuries are serious enough to go to the emergency room, it’s still important that you visit your doctor or go to an urgent care facility as soon as possible. Many slip and fall injuries are not immediately apparent, especially soft tissue damage and head injuries. You may not feel pain from your injuries until several hours or even days after the accident.
A delay in medical treatment can adversely affect the value of your claim. If you don’t seek prompt medical attention and document your injuries, the insurance company and defense attorneys may argue that another accident caused your injuries or that you weren’t injured at all.
Keep all of your medical records and write down all of your symptoms each day. You should also write down the time you’ve had to take off of work and how your injuries have impacted your day-to-day life. Following your doctor’s orders and keeping detailed records will help prove that the slip and fall accident caused your injuries. It will also help you prove that your injuries are as severe as you claim.
Recovering Compensation for Your Injuries
Generally, there are two ways to pursue compensation after a slip and fall accident. You can pursue an insurance claim with the negligent business’s insurance company, or you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the property or business owner or manager. Either way, the value of your claim will depend on several factors, including the nature and severity of your injuries.
If you have severe injuries with long-lasting symptoms, your claim will be worth more. Attorney Tim Reed will work with you to determine the estimated value of your claim, including all of your past, current, and future medical expenses, lost income, loss of future earning capacity, and property damage. You can also pursue compensation for your emotional pain, physical suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Contact an Experienced Little Rock & Arkansas Slip and Fall Attorney
Slip and fall accidents can be serious and can sometimes cause permanent injuries. If you or your loved one has been seriously injured in a Little Rock slip and fall accident, you need a skilled attorney representing your best interests. Obtaining compensation can be challenging, but you don’t have to go through the process alone. Contact the Reed Firm today to schedule a free initial consultation.