In Florissant, Missouri, the community prides itself on the title “Top 100 Places to Live,” named by Money Magazine in 2012. It is a place for all generations of families to come together and live a fulfilling St. Louis suburban life.
On an average Saturday morning many children, parents, and grandparents can be found watching Saturday morning cartoons. Everyone laughs when their favorite nemesis slips on a banana and falls on their back; the fictional character sits up and has stars swirling around their heads. While you watch this cartoon, you don’t think that this could actually happen to you or a loved one.
In reality, slip and falls are extremely common and can affect any generation of your family. Just like the nemesis slips on the banana, your child or parents can easily slip on some unpredictable thing. It can happen in a neighbor’s yard, at a local grocery store, or even in the work place.
When you slip and fall, you must ask yourself–is there someone to blame for this slip up? Did someone act negligently? Those are questions that you can ask Finney Law Office, LLC.
Over two million Americans visit the ER specifically for slip and fall injuries every year, according to the National Floor Safety Institute (NHSI). Over 8 million people visit the ER for fall injuries in general.
Slip and falls, again, are extremely common and can be very serious. They can leave a loved one out of work and on the mend for an unpredicted amount of time. Unlike the cartoons, the stars swirling around your head don’t just go away; a concussion or traumatic brain injury can take weeks or months to heal. You cannot simply get up and go back to your daily life—your daily life will be changed and you will have to adapt to your temporary or permanent disability.
When your family is trying to provide and care for you after a slip and fall accident, they may get a lot of advice, both factual and untrue, from friends and family and Google. The important thing is to determine what advice will truly be beneficial for you and what will not.
The attorneys at Finney Law Office, LLC not only answer all of your questions and confirm the facts, but they bust the myths that you may have heard.
Myth: A property owner is always negligent if you get injured on their property.
Premises liability cases such as slip and fall injuries aren’t always covered. In order for your injury to be covered under the laws of a slip and fall accident (premises liability,) the property owner must have known about the defective or hazardous area and decided to not repair it. Once a property owner becomes aware of a potential hazard, they have to act reasonably and within a reasonable time period to make the necessary repairs. If they do not, they may be held responsible for any and all damages caused by this negligence.
For instance, if a faucet is leaking in a grocery store bathroom creating large puddles of water on the floor (hence making it a hazard), a property owner should place a “wet floor” sign or maybe an “out of order” sign on the doors to ensure their customer’s safety while waiting for a handyman to repair the leak. If the property owner knew about the leak and had multiple customers bring it to the store’s attention, but still decided not to post signs and make the needed repairs, they could be held accountable.
Determining who was at fault for slip and fall injuries can be tricky; there are multiple sides to the story– yours, the property owner’s, employer’s, and witnesses. If you’ve been injured and are not sure who is at fault, it is always in your best interest to contact an experienced slip and fall accident attorney.
Fact: The definition of a slip and fall accident covers a wide variety of injuries.
Slip and fall cases (premises liability) covers more than a slip from a wet floor; it covers a range of injuries that are all a result from a negligent property owner. Slip and fall can cover injuries from stairs, ladders, porches, balconies, defective floors, and more.
Myth: Most slip and fall injuries are not serious.
Slip and fall accidents can drastically change your life or the life of a loved one and they should be taken extremely seriously. According to NHSI, fractures and head injuries are the most common slip and fall injuries. Hips, legs, and arms typically take the brunt of the fall. You could be recovering for weeks or months. Head injuries can take longer to heal and may end up leaving you with permanent damage, altering the rest of your life.
Fact: Slip and falls are usually more dangerous when you are off the ground (ladder, stool, etc.)
Most fall injuries actually occur at ground level but when you are injured while you are elevated, the injuries can be more severe. You only need to be a couple feet off the ground to seriously injure your back, head, and rest of your body.
Myth: It doesn’t take long to recover from a slip and fall injury.
Fall injuries can take a substantial amount of time to heal. Physical therapy, rehabilitation, and surgery all may be needed for a slip and fall injury. The initial recovery can be long, too. NHSI stated that 22 percent of falls result in more than 31 days of missed work. That can mean you may lose a month’s salary and, on top of that, have a bunch of medical bills piling up. The physical and financial recovery of a slip and fall injury will not be easy, and it will not be short. However, it may go by quicker with loved ones by your side and with experienced slip and fall attorneys handling your case.
Fact: Slip and fall injury claims are common.
Unfortunately, slip and fall claims are very common. They are the leading cause of worker’s compensation claims, according to NHSI. Many of our clients have been injured in everyday places like their neighbor’s home, apartment complexes, grocery stores, restaurants, parking lots, and more.
Attorneys at Finney Law Office, LLC are experienced, dedicated, and earnest. They are lawyers that are willing to fight for your quality of life in Florissant, Missouri, and provide you with the compensation that you need. Compensation can cover medical expenses, losses sustained from the injury, which may include loss of income because you were unable to work.
Slip and fall injuries can lead to uncertainty. Our slip and fall lawyers want to eliminate that uncertainty and provide you with advice, options, and answers that you deserve. With an experienced, compassionate lawyer on your side, you can focus on recovering and regaining your quality of life in Florissant.
To contact one of our experienced slip and fall attorneys, call (314)-646-0300.