A trip and fall lawyer Philadelphia trusts to litigate high-value claims shares the information that accident victims need to know when filing a lawsuit after a fall. Each year, thousands of individuals are injured when the fall due to someone else’s negligence. From wet floors to defective stairs or cracked sidewalks, the trip and fall lawyer Philadelphia relies on can help you understand what you need to prove fault after a fall.
Is a Trip the Same as a Fall?
According to safety experts, a trip occurs when a person’s foot or lower extremity encounters an object or uneven or broken surface. Items that are left on a floor, rugs, or broken concrete can cause tripping hazards. Tripping over objects or uneven surfaces is a common cause of falls.
Falls are the result of when someone trips or slips/ Each year, millions of people fall. The CDC estimates that one out of every 5 falls results in a serious injury. Traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, sprains, lacerations, and back/neck injuries from falls send over 800,000 people to the hospital each year.
What Makes a Person Trip and Fall?
Items that are left on a floor, loose rugs, or broken concrete can all cause a tripping hazard. Another hazard that can result in a trip in fall includes poor visibility from inadequate lighting. The following is a short list of common trip hazards according to a trip and fall lawyer Philadelphia counts on to represent accident victims.
- Poor lighting that reduces visibility
- Clutter on the floor
- Wrinkled carpeting
- Uncovered cables
- Broken or uneven walking surfaces.
- Loose or unanchored rugs
What is Considered a Slip and Fall?
A slip is typically caused by a wet or slippery substance that is on the floor. Sometimes, slips can be caused by spilled items, such as round object like marbles or beads, that are left on the floor. During a slip, the foot loses friction with the floor’s surface and the foot pushes outwards and upwards. Slips frequently result in falls that cause injuries to the back of the head, neck, hip, or spine.
What Happens When you Trip and Fall?
Some trip and falls are just a part of life. Minor falls in which you “pick yourself up and dust off” often result in nothing more than a bruised ego. However, some falls result in serious injuries such as fractures, traumatic brain injuries, sprains, or spin injuries and can take months or years for recovery. When a negligent act of another party results in your trip and fall with serious injury, you may have a case for a civil personal injury lawsuit.
Determining Liability
It can be difficult to determine if another party is legally liable for your trip and fall accident. According to a trip and fall lawyer Philadelphia turns to for these cases, there are certain criteria that could make another party liable for your fall. Another party may be liable if one of the following criteria is met:
- The owner or employee of the property caused the fall hazard
- The owner or employee of the property knew about the fall hazard but didn’t address or correct it
- The owner or employee of the property should have known about the hazard as a “reasonable person” responsible for the property
Understanding these criteria – especially the “reasonable person” standard – can be difficult. It’s advisable to consult with a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer to determine if your case meets one the criteria to proceed with a legal case against the property owner.
Comparative Negligence in Trip and Fall Accidents
In many trip and fall cases, a person’s own carelessness may have contributed to the accident. Pennsylvania comparative negligence laws often allow victims to receive compensation for their claim even if they had some level of fault for the accident. A Philadelphia personal injury lawyer can help you understand how comparative negligence may affect the outcome of your claim.
Contact The Wieand Law Firm, LLC Today!
IF you believe that property owner negligence resulted in your trip and fall injury, contact the personal injury lawyers at the Wieand Law Firm, LLC. Our lawyers will take the time to listen closely to your situation and explain the legal options available to you. Our consultations are always free, and we never earn a fee unless we win money for you. Call 215-666-7777 to speak directly with an attorney.
