Attorney
There is a lot of confusion about slip and fall accidents and what rights an injured person has. This blog will explore slip and fall accidents and debunk some of the myths and misconceptions about these personal injury cases.
A Maryland slip and fall attorney can help you go after the financial compensation you deserve from the liable party. We offer a free initial consultation with no obligation.
Myth: Slip and Fall Accidents Only Cause Minor or Fake Injuries
We have all seen photos and videos of people who try to defraud insurance companies by pretending to get injured and wearing a neck collar in public, even though they are not injured. Somehow, that scenario has morphed into an assumption that slip and fall accidents are not severe or legitimate.
On the contrary, depending on how they fall, a person could get paralyzed from spinal cord damage or die from a skull fracture resulting from a slip and fall accident. Broken bones, internal organ damage, and hemorrhages are just a few examples of other types of severe injuries an individual could suffer in these accidents. Fall accidents are one of the leading reasons why many aging adults lose their mobility.
Myth: Property Owners Are Always Liable When Someone Gets Injured in a Slip and Fall Accident
The landowner is not automatically responsible to pay for the injuries and other losses whenever someone gets wounded on their property. The landowner must have been negligent in a way that caused the person to get injured in a slip and fall accident.
The property must have had a hazardous condition that the owner knew or should have known about and failed to take appropriate measures within a reasonable time to protect people from harm. This failure must be what caused the accident that injured the person.
Myth: The Claims Adjuster Will Offer a Fair Settlement for Your Injuries
No. The claims adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you. The adjuster’s job is to get rid of your injury claim for as little money as possible.
Myth: People Injured in Slip and Fall Accidents Only Get Their Medical Bills Paid
People who get wounded in slip and fall accidents are able to pursue claims for the same kinds of monetary damages as plaintiffs in other types of personal injury cases. Medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering are some of the more common categories of financial compensation that slip and fall accident claims seek.
Myth: The Property Owner Has to Pay Your Medical Bills Even if You Were Negligent and Caused the Slip and Fall Accident
Maryland is a contributory fault state, not a comparative fault state. Contributory fault means that if you were even a little bit at fault, the defendant can escape liability for your losses. For example, if someone climbed over a six-foot-high privacy fence to get into someone’s backyard and broke their leg when they landed, the property owner likely will not be liable for the injuries. Still, if you were on the premises legally and did not cause the slip and fall accident, you will want to work with a Maryland slip and fall lawyer who can protect you from unfair accusations of negligence and help you file a successful slip and fall case. Reach out to our office today for help with your case.