There is an unspoken, but legal mutual trust between property owners and those on their property. Visitors enter the premises under the assumption that the property is reasonably safe and they are not being put in harm’s way.
But when a slip and fall accident occurs due to negligence and/or unsafe conditions, that trust is broken, and the property owner is held liable.
Unfortunately, past slip and fall cases have been taken out of context or manipulated altogether, so oftentimes the reality about slip and fall injuries are skewed.
To dispel some of the lies that have arisen about slip and fall cases, here is the truth regarding the top five myths of slip and fall accidents:
Myth #1: People who sue for slip and fall accidents are greedy.
Truth: While, undoubtedly, there are greedy people who abuse the system, most of the time, slip and fall claims are made by individuals who were actually injured by unsafe conditions and entitled to compensation. Property owners have a legal duty to provide a safe environment for their guests or customers, so negligence in this area is subject to legal action, and rightfully so.
Myth #2: You cannot receive compensation for an injury if the property owner cannot pay.
Truth: If a property owner uses the excuse that they are unable to pay compensation for your injury because they don’t have enough money in their pockets, it is probably a smokescreen. You will need a personal injury attorney to represent you in court and investigate the assets the property owner truly has as repayment.
In addition, most property owners carry insurance, or are legally required to, so accidents like slip and fall injuries are covered. So even if a property owner claims that they have no money to pay you, the compensation you receive will generally come from their insurance company anyways. How shallow their pockets are is irrelevant.
Myth #3: You should settle your case quickly after a slip and fall accident.
Truth: A property owner or their insurance company may try to convince you to settle out of court now by saying the cost of pursuing legal compensation later is expensive. The danger in agreeing to a settlement early is that oftentimes they insert clauses ensuring that you cannot come back and file another lawsuit in the future, even if you discover that the injuries you sustained were more severe than originally thought.
Wait until you know the full extent of your injuries and the medical costs before you agree to a settlement.
Myth #4: Major slip and fall accidents are easily distinguished from a minor injury.
Truth: Slip and fall accidents can be tricky because sometimes the injuries take awhile to fully manifest. Especially when it comes to head injuries, it is imperative you immediately seek medical attention to get a thorough evaluation of your injuries so that you don’t have any unexpected surprises later.
Myth #5: If you sustain any slip and fall injury, the property owner is obligated to pay for your medical expenses.
Truth: To successfully win your slip and fall case in or out of court, it is essential there is proof that your injuries were caused by the property owner’s negligence or actions. Just because you slip and fall on someone’s property does not mean that they are necessarily required to pay for your injuries. There must be connection between the accident and the property owner’s involvement in the unsafe environment.
The only way to ensure that you receive complete compensation for a slip and fall accident is to talk to a personal injury lawyer.