Did you slip and fall at a store and aren’t sure if you have a case?
There are times when a slip and fall accident happens in what could be considered a safe property and both parties are at fault. While property owners are responsible for the safety of the property, visitors are also responsible for taking precautions and adhering to safety rules while on property. If you’re not sure if you have a slip and fall case, we recommend a free case review from the Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer.
In Arizona, we have what is called comparative negligence which means that while the property owner may be at fault for your slip and fall, you may also hold a degree of negligence. If you, as plaintiff, can show valid and documented injuries from the incident, you will likely receive compensation. That is of course as long as you did not stage the incident or fail to avoid a blatant hazard. Compensation is determined based on the portion of negligence of each party.
Here are real life examples of slip and fall cases that received compensation:
- In 2005 a woman was in a Walmart in Jacksonville, Florida for an hour and a half shopping. When she checked out, there was a price discrepancy on an item. She went back to the department to check the price, slipped, and fell. At the time of the incident she was already in recovery from shoulder surgery. She was able to prove, based on the timing of her fall and post-surgery doctor’s visits, that irreversible nerve damage in her already injured shoulder was caused by her slip and fall at Wal-Mart. She was rewarded $1 million with Wal-Mart 80% at fault. She received $800,000 in compensation. Without a personal injury lawyer reviewing the case, she may have walked away thinking her nerve damage was because of her surgery and not the fall.
- At a Lowe’s Home and Garden Center in West Melbourne, Florida a customer suffered injuries when an employee driving a forklift hit the customer from behind. The customer received $600,000 as the result of the accident, due in part to their attorney gathering witness accounts and other evidence from the incident.
- In 2011 a woman sued Home Depot after slipping on an unknown substance. She asked for the surveillance tape from that day to prove her case. Home Depot could not produce the tape, saying it had been deleted. The woman was awarded $44,383.61 for her injuries. Without an attorney to demand the evidence, the woman may not have been awarded compensation.
Gathering evidence and witness accounts are two of the ways a personal injury attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve after a slip and fall.
If you have suffered a slip and fall, contact us or call Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer for a free case review.
