According to the National Safety Council, falls are a major cause of unintentional injury in the United States, leading to nearly 8.9 million emergency room visits annually. Falls can be particularly harmful for older individuals — the number of fall deaths among senior citizens outnumbers that of all other age groups by a ratio of four to one.
Who is responsible for your harm?
Common locations of falls include doorways, ramps, uneven surfaces, wet floors, stairwells and cluttered hallways. Property owners must provide a safe environment for visitors, employees and customers, and in certain cases involving children, trespassers. To establish negligence, you need to compile evidence that shows that a property owner owed you a duty to prevent harm, violated that duty, and that this violation led to your injuries. Elements of this process include:
- Seeking prompt medical attention: Immediately after an accident, you may not always understand the full scope of your injuries, and waiting too long to seek medical help can work against your damages claim.
- Getting witness reports: Compile witness details, including names and contact information.
- Documenting the accident scene and taking notes of what happened: Significant evidence can be gathered by taking cell-phone pictures of the accident scene to show the harmful condition.
- Filing an accident report: Ensure you file in a timely manner.
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, contact an experienced Chicago premises liability lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney at Dolan Law can provide advice regarding the scope of your claims and fight for your right to receive the compensation you deserve.