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Slip and fall accidents are an unfortunate and common part of life for many people. But whether you are shopping at a store, touring a museum, or visiting some other premises, you have every right to expect a safe environment free of hazards. So when you or your loved one are injured in a slip and fall accident in Arlington, VA, because of the negligence of the premises owner or business operator, you deserve compensation to help you get back on your feet.
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Slip and fall accidents aren’t just a concern for senior citizens or visitors who aren’t as steady on their feet—these accidents can cause serious injuries for even a perfectly healthy individual. Injuries can range from minor to serious, even catastrophic, and if you were the victim of someone else’s negligence, you may have grounds to bring legal action against them.
Regan Zambri Long’s Arlington, VA, personal injury attorneys are well-equipped to take on your Arlington slip and fall accident claim. We’ve handled many claims like yours and recovered favorable settlements and verdicts on behalf of our injured clients. Recovering from slip and fall injuries looks different for every person, but you deserve financial compensation that allows you to take all the time you need to heal without worrying about making ends meet.
You can contact our experienced slip and fall lawyers to schedule a free consultation online today or by calling 202-960-4596.
Older adults aged 65 and older are at the highest risk for slips and falls, and often their injuries can be worse than those sustained by younger people. The CDC reports that nearly 1 in 4 older adults fall each year, with 800,000 people hospitalized each year because of the injuries sustained. In 2018, 25.3 percent of Virginia’s older population reported falling, according to the CDC. While not every slip and fall is caused by negligence, many are, and many are preventable.
The National Floor Safety Institute reports that floors and flooring materials directly contribute to more than two million slip-and-fall accidents each year. These kinds of personal injuries can happen to anyone, and when they do you are entitled to compensation for your medical expenses and other losses. A personal injury lawyer experienced in slip and fall accidents can help you claim what you are owed.
Many slip and fall accidents can be classified as premises liability cases—where a property owner or occupier is negligent in maintaining a safe environment and that results in injuries for others visiting the location.
Some common causes of slip and fall premises liability claims include failure to clear ice and snow from paths and stairs; uneven walkways; surfaces made slick by spilled liquids, powders, or dust; cracked, broken, or partially missing sidewalks; poor lighting; and cluttered or partially blocked walkways.
In the workplace or other industrial locations, the property owner or business operator can be at fault for missing railings around loading docks or elevated walkways and tripping hazards, such as cords and cables running across a walkway. Workers’ compensation claims for slips and falls follow a different procedure than a personal injury claim, but you still want to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer Arlington VA to make sure your claim is handled correctly.
Your first step after a slip or fall is to seek medical attention for your injuries. It is normal to feel embarrassed and want to brush the incident aside, but being seen by your medical provider creates a paper trail for any future injuries that arise after the fact. Your medical records will prove that the negligent party is liable for your injuries, and this proof will be key to recovering full compensation during your personal injury lawsuit.
You may feel angry and want to take immediate legal action after a slip or fall, but you should consult with an Arlington, VA, slip and fall accident lawyer before committing to any legal action. Virginia law allows you to file a personal injury claim within two years of the accident. Your personal injury lawyer may recommend waiting to see the full extent of your injuries and how fully you can recover before placing a value on your case and making an initial settlement demand. You can claim future medical bills and lost wages as damages after your accident, so you don’t want to file a claim or lawsuit until you understand how your injuries will impact your future financially.
Although many premises liability accidents seem straightforward on the surface, they can become complex once the legal process begins. Virginia follows a very strict contributory negligence standard, which states that if a person is found to have contributed in any way to the accident and/or their injuries, that person is completely barred from bringing a claim against the other party, regardless of what negligence the other party may have committed.
This means that, after a slip and fall accident, the liable party will likely try to find a way to pin some degree of negligence on you to get the case dismissed. You must consult with an experienced Arlington, VA, slip and fall lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. Your personal injury lawyer will help protect you from any undue liability while holding the real liable party accountable.
A successful personal injury case hinges on proving fault and that the liable party breached his or her duty of care. Legal negligence is made up of four components: 1) that the defendant had a duty of care to behave in a certain way, 2) that he or she failed to uphold that responsibility, thereby breaching the duty of care, 3) that the failure or breach caused the accident, and 4) that the accident caused your injuries.
A common slip and fall accident case is a grocery store with a wet floor. If you are shopping at your local store, the owner and employees have a responsibility to put up signage warning you that the floor is wet. If they do not put up signs, you won’t know to walk carefully and may slip and fall, resulting in an injury. The injury is caused by the fall, and the fall was caused by the store’s failure to alert you to the wet, slippery surface.
When you or your loved one suffers a slip-and-fall accident, you should be able to focus on healing instead of holding the liable party accountable. In a perfect world, the liable party would take responsibility and pay a fair settlement without any hassle. While that isn’t the reality for many slip-and-fall victims, the personal injury attorneys at Regan Zambri Long work on behalf of our clients, shouldering the legal burden and recovering the compensation and justice they deserve.
We’ve recovered millions of dollars for our clients and we will bring that same commitment and experience to bear on your personal injury case. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t collect any fees until we’ve made a recovery in your favor. You can schedule your no-obligation case evaluation online or by calling 202-960-4596 today.
After a slip and fall accident, you can claim compensation for economic and non-economic damages. Calculating the value of your economic damages is fairly straightforward—they include current and future medical expenses, lost wages and earning capacity, bills for any property damage you suffered, and other out-of-pocket expenses. Calculating the value of your non-economic damages is harder because they don’t come with a bill—they include emotional trauma and anguish, pain and suffering, and diminished quality of life.
After a slip and fall accident, you aren’t likely to know the full extent of your injuries nor how to fully quantify the compensation you deserve. Partnering with an experienced slip-and-fall accident lawyer at Regan Zambri Long will transfer that burden to your legal counsel so that you can focus on your recovery and healing.
Slip and fall accidents can cause a whole host of injuries for the victim, including:
Additionally, you may experience chronic pain related to any of these injuries you may have suffered. You can claim financial compensation for the chronic pain your slip and fall accident causes.
Slip and fall accidents can be caused by non-negligent factors as easily as negligent actions. Considering Virginia’s contributory negligence law, hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer will always be in your best interest after a slip and fall accident.
The liable party and their insurance company will be looking for evidence that shows you were at least partially responsible for your injuries. Your lawyer will answer your questions and protect you from false responsibility. Your lawyer will also investigate to prove negligence and liability—something you may not be able to do yourself if you suffered a serious injury.
Finally, an experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to help you calculate a fair and reasonable value for your damages, accounting for any future expenses and losses related to your slip and fall accident that you haven’t experienced yet.
The circumstances surrounding your slip and fall accident, as well as the liable party’s willingness to pay fair compensation, will largely dictate the legal processes your case goes through. After your initial consultation, your personal injury lawyer will investigate your slip and fall accident and speak with the liable insurance company on your behalf. If they are willing to make a reasonable and fair settlement offer, your lawyer will likely advise you to accept and wrap up your case quickly. If they are unwilling to accept liability or if they won’t offer fair compensation, your slip and fall accident lawyer will likely recommend proceeding with a lawsuit to obtain justice in court.
Many slip-and-fall accidents occur in the workplace. Although a workplace accident is different than other personal injury cases, it is still in your best interest to meet with an attorney to discuss your legal options and for help filing the correct paperwork. Work-related injuries generally go through the workers’ compensation process, which can be complicated and tedious. Especially if you suffered a serious injury, you will want an experienced lawyer to guide you through the process so that your claim is approved and you receive fair compensation.
The attorneys at Regan Zambri Long have been practicing law for decades, with more than 100 years of cumulative experience among them. We focus on personal injury claims within the DC, Maryland, and Virginia metro areas. Our team has recovered millions of dollars for our injured clients in all kinds of personal injury cases. Whether your slip and fall accident occurred at work, at a business, or on someone’s personal property, our personal injury lawyers can investigate your claim and bring a suit against the liable party. We act with the best interests of our clients in mind. We will handle the legal process to obtain justice so you can focus on your recovery. Schedule a free consultation online or by calling 202-960-4596.
