Slip and fall injuries are common complaints among individuals who file personal injury lawsuits. While people can easily slip, trip, or fall under circumstances where no one is at fault, slipping on ice or wet surfaces or tripping over debris property owners left unattended can warrant a personal injury case.
If you suffered injuries in a preventable slip and fall accident due to a property owner or manager’s negligence, you can work with Cory Watson Attorneys today to learn more about your legal options. Our Vestavia Hills slip and fall accident lawyers help individuals pursue the compensation they need to cover their injury-related losses and injuries.
What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability refers to a property owner or occupier’s the legal responsibility to ensure the safety of people who enter the premises. This law aims to hold property owners accountable for injuries or damages on their premises due to poorly maintained and unsafe conditions or negligence, such as rectifying problems of which they should have been aware.
Typical properties that premises liability applies to include businesses, government buildings, public parks, theme parks, parking lots, sidewalks, and even private homes in Vestavia Hills. The property owner’s liability depends on the incident’s circumstances and the legal status of the injured party relative to the owner. These include lawful visitors and trespassers.
Under premises liability law, guests are invited onto someone else’s property for business or social purposes, such as customers in a retail store or family members at a private residence. These individuals are owed a legal duty of care, including property inspections and posted warnings of potential hazards. Tennessee once distinguished between lawful visitors and considered them invitees (e.g., customers) and licensees (e.g., private residences). However, the Tennessee Supreme Court abolished this distinction in 1984.
What About Trespassers Entering a Property?
Because trespassers enter a property without the owner’s permission, they are typically not owed a duty of care unless they are an exception to this rule, such as a child. Our attorney can explain if this exception applies to your case.
For a free legal consultation with a slip and fall accidents lawyer serving Vestavia Hills, call 877-562-0000
Responsibilities of Property Owners in Vestavia Hills, AL
If you had a slip and fall accident and suffered serious injuries, you may want to contact a personal injury attorney to help you determine whether the property owner or liable party is at fault for your accident. For example, they might be considered responsible if they fail to repair or correct any of the following conditions:
- Hazardous or unstable surfaces, such as icy sidewalks, slippery flooring, torn or wrinkled carpets or rugs, broken stairs, etc.
- Debris or objects, such as store merchandise, in common areas that could cause a slip, trip, and fall.
- Poor lighting, such as light bulbs burned out in common areas.
- Lack of a warning sign or barrier showing hazards that should be avoided.
There are many other circumstances that can result in a slip, trip, and fall caused by a property owner’s lack of maintenance or proper inspection. Any type of injury suffered on property owned by individuals, entities, or governments should be thoroughly investigated to determine if negligence was what led to the hazard and accident.
Vestavia Hills Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-562-0000
Damages You May be Entitled to for Your Slip and Fall
Accident-related injuries can be expensive, and many individuals and their families are unprepared to cover the costs of medical care. An insurance settlement or court verdict can help you be compensated for injury-related treatment and other losses. Damages you may pursue in a Vestavia Hills slip and fall accident include the following:
- Emergency and ongoing medical care, including surgeries, diagnostic tests, doctor’s visits, medication, etc.
- Lost income for missed work time, including sick leave
- Diminished earning potential if you cannot return to work in the same capacity or earn the same wages
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Lost quality or enjoyment of life
We will help you identify and evaluate your losses and ensure any settlement you accept is fair and will cover your accident-related expenses. Once you agree to settle on a certain amount, even if you find out later it’s insufficient, you cannot seek additional damages.
Contact our Vestavia Hills, AL, Personal Injury Attorney today
Wrongful Death Damages
If you’ve lost a loved one due to a slip and fall resulting from a property owner’s negligence, you could receive compensation for costs of your loved one’s passing or your grief and losses. However, the state awards only punitive damages in wrongful death cases, not compensatory ones. Punitive damages intend to punish the defendant for their negligence. Our Vestavia Hills slip and fall injury lawyer can help file a wrongful death lawsuit if applicable to your case.
If a judge or jury awards punitive damages, heirs of the deceased will receive compensation.
The statute of limitations in Alabama is two years for wrongful death lawsuits, Ala. Code 6-2-38. This deadline starts on the decedent’s death date. However, some factors could delay the statute. Our attorney will advise you on if there are exceptions in your case. They also will make sure you file your case on time. If you miss a deadline, you may lose your right to pursue compensation.
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Call Us Today for Help From With a Vestavia Hills Slip and Fall Accident Case
Cory Watson Attorneys has advocated for injury victims and their families for over 40 years. During this time, we have sought financial recovery from liable parties on behalf of our clients, recovering millions in awards in various personal injury cases, including slip and falls and other premises liability cases.
If you have questions about your slip and fall injury case or filing a personal injury, contact our Vestavia Hills slip and fall accident attorneys today. We offer free case reviews and can explain your legal rights and options that could help you cover your losses and reclaim your life.
Call or text 877-562-0000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form