What You Should Know About Slip and Fall Accidents
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, contact The Law Office of Jason Skala, LLC for effective legal representation.
Every year, more than one million people in the United States are injured as a result of slip and fall accidents. These accidents claim the lives of nearly 20,000 people annually. When victims sustain injuries in slip and fall accidents, or families lose loved ones due to these preventable accidents, it is crucial that they seek legal guidance from a premises liability attorney in Anchorage as soon as possible. Those who have been impacted by these incidents may be entitled to compensation to help alleviate the financial burdens they face moving forward.
The slip and fall accident attorneys at our firm have extensive experience helping accident victims and their families protect their legal rights after being harmed in an accident. Our team understands the challenges that slip and fall accident victims are forced to endure due to their injuries. In many cases, victims are left to endure overwhelming pain and suffering, which is only worsened by the crippling financial burdens they face from being forced out of work to recover. We strongly believe that no victim should be forced to spend tens of thousands of dollars of their own money on medical treatment for injuries caused by the negligence of others. This motivates our team to fight on behalf of our clients so that wrongdoers are held accountable for their actions. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, contact our personal injury attorneys in Alaska as soon as possible to protect your legal rights and explore legal options available for you.
Legal Rights after Slip and Fall Accidents
The type of visitor that you were at the time of your slip and fall accident plays a critical role in determining what legal options are available for you. The classification of visitor has an impact on whether you are covered under premises liability laws in Alaska as well as the amount of compensation to which you are entitled.
Unlike other states, courts in Alaska maintain a simplified premises liability claim process. The state adheres to guidelines that specify that businesses have a duty to take reasonable care under the circumstances to prevent any type of injuries or damages to guests or customers. The duty extends to the parking lot areas, as well; given the fact that weather conditions and inadequate security and lighting can be dangerous for guests.
It is important to understand that Alaska is a comparative negligence state. This essentially provides victims with various legal options even after being injured in accidents where they share some portion of fault. If a guest is found to be somewhat at fault for their injuries, it can impact the amount of compensation recoverable for their legal claim. Working with a legal team that is responsive, effective, and knowledgeable will advise you so that you are able to maximize your recoveries after being harmed in a slip and fall accident.
Common Locations for Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can occur in any location. However, there are various places where these accidents are more likely to occur. Some of the places our team at The Law Office of Jason Skala, LLC has cited in personal injury claims for accident victims in Anchorage include:
Restaurants
Grocery stores
Banks
Malls
Office buildings
Parking lots
Sidewalks
Hotels
Casinos
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident, it is crucial that you seek the legal guidance of a qualified and responsive premises liability attorney as soon as possible. You may have legal options available to help you obtain compensation to cover various costs you face moving forward.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are often a result of another person’s negligent and reckless actions. In most cases, property owners fail to address problems before accidents occur. In other cases, property owners fail to notify guests that the problems exist so they remain safe while on the property. Some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents we see here in Anchorage include:
Icy or snow-covered sidewalks and walkways
Wet and slippery surfaces
Uneven, broken, or cracked flooring
Chipped ground surfaces
Potholes
Torn flooring or ripped carpeting
Broken stair railing
Stairs that are too steep a grade
Uneven or missing steps
Inadequate lighting
Property owners are required to maintain a safe premise for their guests. When business owners, tenants, homeowners, and others in charge of properties fail to clear ground surfaces and ensure the safety of others, they can be held liable for any resulting injuries or damages suffered by guests involved in slip and fall accidents. Victims should reach out to a personal injury attorney in Anchorage as soon as possible to explore legal options available for them.
Injuries Sustained by Slip and Fall Victims
Although Alaska slip and fall accidents are caused by common circumstances, the injuries sustained by victims are not all the same. In fact, there are various types of injuries that victims can endure as a result of slipping, tripping, or falling on another person’s property. Some of the injuries our team helps victims receive justice for include:
Broken Bones: It is common for victims to suffer broken arms, legs, ankles, hands, or even feet. Many victims suffer severe or compound fractures that require extensive medical treatment and months of therapy to recover from. When victims break bones, they often face challenges surrounding performing even the simplest task.
Spinal Cord Injuries: Severe slip and fall accidents can result in spinal cord injuries for victims. The chances of spinal cord injuries are greatly increased when victims fall from heights rather than suffer ground-level falls. Spinal cord injuries are truly debilitating and can lead to temporary or permanent paralysis for victims.
Neck Injuries: When victims fall, their necks are often forced to endure sudden and severe shifts that cause neck and tissue injuries. These injuries can be painful and require medical treatment to recover from. Victims who sustain neck injuries often have balance issues, suffer from headaches, have problems with their range of motion, and face numerous other challenges.
Traumatic Brain Injuries: When victims bang their heads after debilitating falls, they may experience brain swelling or bleeds. These injuries, often referred to as TBIs, can result in memory problems, balance issues, hearing problems, and other complications that impact their health and wellbeing. Severe TBIs can lead to permanently debilitating impairments and conditions.
Sprains: It is fairly common for people involved in slip and fall accidents to be left with sprains in their ankles and wrists. These injuries are painful and have a crippling impact on a person’s ability to perform various tasks.
Dislocations and Strains: There are instances where people suffer debilitating falls that result in shoulder dislocations and muscle strains. These injuries often require medical treatment and can be extremely painful for victims. Many victims have to undergo immediate surgery and have long-term treatment plans to help them throughout their recovery.
Knee Damage: Many victims involved in slip and fall accidents rotate as they fall. As a result, it is common for victims to injured their ACL or MCL. These injuries are extremely painful and require therapy and various other treatments. The fact that these injuries take a long time to heal can have a damaging impact on the mental, emotional, and financial wellbeing of a victim.
Cuts, Abrasions, and Bruises: Although these injuries are not typically life-threatening, cuts and abrasions can lead to permanent scarring. Severe cuts can also result in nerve and muscle damage for victims. In many instances, cuts, bruises, and abrasions are not only physically painful, but they have a lasting mental and emotional impact on victims as well.
When victims are injured in slip and fall accidents, they often require immediate medical attention. Depending on the type and severity of the injury, victims can require ongoing treatment and therapy. It is crucial that they seek the legal guidance of a qualified and knowledgeable Alaska personal injury attorney from our firm as soon as possible. Those harmed may be entitled to compensation to help alleviate the financial burdens they face moving forward.
What Should I Do After Being Injured?
Cases surrounding slip and fall accidents are particularly tricky. Without adequate proof, it can be difficult for victims to prove they were harmed due to the negligence of a property owner. If there is not enough evidence present to support your claims, the at-fault party can easily claim that you were at fault for your own injuries. For this reason, it is crucial that you take swift actions immediately following an accident so you are in the best position possible to protect your legal rights moving forward.
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, it is crucial that you document your medical injuries carefully. Regardless of whether you suffered broken bones, sprains, or other injuries, you will need more than just your words highlighting what happened to you. You will need to gather evidence to support the type and severity of injuries you sustained. It is crucial that you seek immediate medical attention for your injuries so you can begin documenting your suffering. By going in for a medical exam or treatment immediately following your accident, you will be able to have a medical professional record your injuries in an observation chart. Furthermore, they will have x-rays and various other tests that can show the extent of your injuries.
In addition to seeking medical attention as soon as possible, you must take photos of your injuries. Keeping a diary of your daily pain levels can help to demonstrate the pain and suffering you have been forced to endure immediately following your accident as well as the long-term consequences you endure. Keeping records, having pictures, and medical reports are all strong evidence that can clearly demonstrate that you were injured and to what degree the injuries impact your health and wellbeing. Seeking the assistance of a premises liability attorney in Anchorage as soon as possible can help improve your chances of recovering the maximum amount of compensation available to you.
The Law Office of Jason Skala, LLC is Here For You
Slip and fall accidents can have a life-altering impact on victims. Far too often, people are forced to endure the overwhelming consequences of negligent property owners. Not only are slip and fall accidents incredibly painful, but they can result in the need for extensive and prolonged medical treatment. These types of accidents are often overwhelming for both victims and their families. In many instances, slip and fall accident victims are unaware of legal options available to help them move forward after being harmed. For this reason, it is crucial that victims seek legal guidance from a qualified and knowledgeable slip and fall accident attorney in Anchorage at their earliest convenience. You may be entitled to compensation to help alleviate the financial burdens you face moving forward.
The Anchorage personal injury attorneys at our firm have decades of experience helping victims obtain the maximum amount of compensation available for personal injury claims surrounding slip and fall accidents. Our attorneys are dedicated to helping victims and their families get the justice they deserve after being injured in accidents caused by the negligent and reckless actions of property owners. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, don’t wait. Contact our premises liability attorneys in Anchorage by calling us. Schedule a free case review with our attorneys at your earliest convenience to see how we can help you move forward and get the justice that you deserve.