Slip and fall incidents have been running gags in films and on television programs for decades. These pratfalls belay the reality that slip and fall accidents can result in serious injuries, and even death. And slip and fall lawsuits, although also frequently ridiculed, are highly serious legal matters.
Frequency of Slip and Fall Accidents
Millions of people in the United States are injured each year in slip and fall accidents, many of these people are seriously harmed. Thousands of people are killed. Half of all household accidents involve falls, the vast majority being slip and fall incidents as opposed to falling off of something.
When it comes to commercial spaces, especially supermarkets and grocery stores, slip and fall accidents top the list of what causes the highest number of injuries to customers or patrons each year. Similarly, slip and fall accidents are the most common cause of injuries in the workplace as well in the United States.
Injuries, Damages, and Losses from Slip and Fall Accidents
As noted previously, injuries, damages, and losses that can result from a slip and fall accident can be profound. For example, all manner of broken bones, as well as damaged soft tissue, can result from a slip and fall accident.
Head injuries, including traumatic brain injury, are a frequent result of a slip and fall accident. The stark reality is that thousands of people end up with permanent brain injuries as the result of slip and fall accidents each year in the United States.
Compensation in a Slip and Fall Lawsuit
Compensation sought and awarded in a slip and fall case depends largely upon the circumstances surrounding the accident, coupled with the nature and extent of injuries sustained in the accident. With that said, common types of losses for which financial compensation is sought in a slip and fall lawsuit include:
- medical bills and expenses
- permanent disability
- pain and suffering
- mental anguish and emotional distress
- lost wages
An injured person is entitled to compensation in a slip and fall case not only for existing losses, but for those that reasonably can be expected to be incurred in the future. For example, following a slip and fall accident, an injured person may require ongoing medical care and treatment for an extended period of time. An injured individual may endure pain for an indefinite period of time. These represent the types of reasonably foreseeable losses for which compensation may be sought in a slip and fall case.