Many same-level falls, including slip-and-falls, are minor incidents. The person who falls may feel embarrassed, but they may not have any major injuries. Not everyone is so fortunate.
Older adults, people with medical challenges and those who fall at just the wrong angle can sustain significant injuries in a slip-and-fall situation. If there is evidence that the fall occurred due to poor property maintenance or other types of negligence, the injured individual could pursue a premises liability lawsuit after their slip-and-fall.
What losses can people potentially seek to recover in a premises liability lawsuit?
1. Property damage losses
When people fall, they can damage their property. A professional who falls in the grocery store could crack the face on a prestige wristwatch worth thousands. Someone who flails when they fall could lose their engagement ring. Hitting furniture or fixtures nearby might lead to damage to clothing. People could also damage their mobile phones or other electronic devices in a slip-and-fall scenario.
2. Medical expenses
Injuries ranging from broken bones to brain injuries can put people in the hospital after a slip-and-fall. They may then pay thousands of dollars in expenses for their treatment, especially if they require emergency trauma care or surgery.
3. Lost wages
The injuries that people sustain in a slip-and-fall may leave them unable to continue working or may force them to take a leave of absence. People hurt in slip-and-falls could seek compensation for their lost wages or a reduction in earning potential associated with long-term injury symptoms.
Adding up the total costs generated by a slip-and-fall incident can help injured people pursue justice. Businesses may have to compensate people hurt due to unsafe property conditions.