Slip and fall accidents are some of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. These accidents are highly unpredictable and can happen to anyone at any time, making prevention one of the only few strategies to reduce the growing yearly count of such accidents occurring throughout the country. According to the latest NSC statistics, nearly 43,000 people died as a result of slip and fall accidents in 2020 alone, making these accidents remarkably dangerous no matter where they might happen. More than 210,000 slip and fall accidents were severe enough to result in temporary incapacitation, rendering the victims unable to work for the duration of treatment.
Slip and fall accidents can occur anywhere, including residential areas, commercial spaces, government buildings, construction sites, workplaces, and more. These accidents nearly always result from a lack of maintenance of appropriate safety standards at the property, which creates several dangerous situations that culminate in a person unwittingly slipping or tripping and falling only to incur serious physical injuries. Luckily, if the accident results from such a lapse in safety, you can sue the property owner for compensation for your slip and fall accident. The information below will take a closer look at what compensation is available for your slip and fall accident and injuries in Los Angeles.
Types of Compensation
Because most slip and fall lawsuits are settled out of court the amount of settlement varies between different cases depending on the circumstances of the accident, the damages incurred by the victim, and the state where the accident occurred, amongst other factors. Once you successfully establish liability on the part of a negligent property owner, you can sue them for the recovery of damages in the form of financial compensation, which can cover the following:
Cost of Treatment
A large percentage of your slip and fall settlement will be based on your medical bills and the costs of any medical or surgical treatment stemming directly from your slip and fall accident and consequent physical injuries. To obtain fair compensation for the costs of treatment, you must keep a thorough written and photographic evidence of your physical injuries as well as a complete paper record of your medical bills, including costs of medicines, medical or surgical procedures, ambulance travel, and more.
Lost Wages
Loss of income is another major component of any slip and fall settlement. If your physical injuries were severe enough to warrant time off work for treatment and recovery, you might be entitled to compensation for the income you lose during this period. Similarly, you can also sue for compensation for any potential job opportunities you might have been eligible for had the accident not rendered you unable to work.
Cost of Rehabilitation
While one might think that hospital treatment would completely treat all injuries resulting from a slip and fall accident, the fact remains that a majority of slip and fall injuries are serious enough to warrant physical rehabilitation for victims to restore complete bodily function that will allow them to return to their previous quality of life. Additionally, victims might require occupational rehabilitation to change their line of work if the injuries resulting from such an accident render them unable to work at their prior occupation.
Loss of Property
It is possible to incur a loss of personal property as a result of slipping and falling. For instance, if your smartphone gets damaged in a slip and fall accident, you are entitled to financial compensation for it, provided that you prove the property owner’s liability for the accident.
Incidental Expenses
Incidental expenses is an umbrella term that encompasses all expenses that arise directly or indirectly due to an accident. For instance, if you slipped and fell, you might have to pay from your pocket to travel to your doctor for initial and ongoing treatment appointments. The same rule applies to costs for commuting to and from your residence and a rehabilitation center.
Pain and Suffering
In addition to the compensation for your physical injuries, you might also be entitled to compensation for emotional damages, including pain and suffering directly resulting from your accident. This amount varies between different cases and denotes the compensation for the degradation in your quality of life and the distress that results from the accident.
Punitive Damages
In some slip and fall lawsuits, a judge might award punitive damages to the victim if it is determined that the negligent party demonstrated a blatant disregard for the safety of the visitors at a property or deliberately created unsafe conditions that led to the accident. It is usually done to set an example for others and make sure that a repeat incident does not occur in the future.
Conclusion
If you or your loved one suffered serious injuries in a slip and fall accident in Los Angeles, you should consider contacting an experienced personal injury attorney who deals in slip and fall lawsuits. A skilled lawyer is your best chance at recovering fair compensation for your physical, emotional, and financial damages.