If customers slip and fall while shopping, they could end up with a variety of serious injuries and property damage expenses as well. So long as the injured party can connect their slip-and-fall incident to negligent property maintenance at the business, they may be able to request compensation.
Most businesses carry premises liability insurance to limit their exposure after slip-and-falls and in similar scenarios. Those who fall and get hurt may think that pursuing a claim isn’t worth the effort. They might assume that they can use their health insurance or paid leave benefits to cover their losses.
However, it is unfair to pass the costs associated with a slip-and-fall incident onto the person who fell rather than the business at fault for the incident. A premises liability insurance claim or a civil lawsuit could lead to reimbursement for the injured person.
What types of compensation can they potentially request?
Injury-related expenses
There are several serious injuries that people might develop because of a slip and fall at a business. Some people hit their heads when they fall, which could lead to a traumatic brain injury. Other people try to catch themselves as they fall, which might result in a broken bone.
Traumatic brain injuries can generate tens of thousands of dollars in lifetime medical care expenses. Even a broken bone can cost thousands of dollars to treat. In addition to the immediate medical costs, there are also lost wages and lost earning potential to consider.
Employees may need to take time away from their jobs or may even need to change their careers because of their injuries. They can potentially seek compensation for their current and future medical expenses as well as their lost wages, lost earning potential and lost employment benefits.
Property damage losses
When someone falls, they might break their mobile phone or damage a prestige wristwatch. The property damage losses generated by a slip-and-fall can very easily add up to thousands of dollars or more depending on the circumstances.
So long as people can prove what injuries they sustained and what property damage occurred, they may be able to request compensation from the company that insures the business. They may even be able to take legal action against the company by initiating a lawsuit. Legal action is sometimes necessary to compel an insurance company to make a reasonable settlement offer.
Discussing the consequences of a slip-and-fall incident with a skilled legal team can help a person who fell at a store and got hurt determine what compensation might be available. Those who report an incident when it occurs and seek medical care shortly afterward may have the best chances of obtaining appropriate reimbursement for their losses.