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Slip and Fall Accidents & Victims’ Rights

Posted on July 9, 2013 in

 

By
Duncan Law Group 

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Each year, thousands of people suffer injuries as the result of a business or premises owners failure to provide safe conditions. When it comes to accidents that occur on others’ properties, slips, trips, and falls are among the most common. According to statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one million Americans sustain injuries in a slip, trip, or fall accident each year, with more than 17,000 of these accidents resulting in death. Slip and fall accidents also account for a considerable percentage of workplace injuries.

Understanding your rights as an injured victim and the areas of law that apply to your case can aid you in determining the validity of your personal injury claim. Nearly all business and premises owners that make their properties available to the public are held to strict legal standards and regulations. An area of law known as premises liability establishes many of the legal elements that can be used in your slip and fall case.

What is premises liability?

Premises liability essentially holds premises owners – which can include corporate franchise businesses, property owners, and others – responsible for the safety of the visitors and guests that visit their property. In certain cases, premises liability may also apply to licensees, or individuals who are given permission to enter or work on a property. Additionally, employees who are injured as the result of an employer’s failures to provide safe conditions may also be covered by premises liability law.

In simple terms, premises owners are legally obligated to provide safe and healthy conditions and to take reasonable measures that keep visitors and guests free from preventable harm. When they fail to do so and accidents occur, injured victims have the right to hold premises owners accountable and financially liable for the damages they suffer, including their physical, emotional, and / or financial damages.

Failing to provide safe conditions can arise in many different ways. A premises owner’s failure to address potential hazards that they knew – or should have known – about is one of the most common instances. Crumbling stairs, uneven or broken flooring, wet and slippery floors, open holes, and insufficient lighting are prime examples of the potential dangers premises owners should address to ensure the safety of guests. Failing to warn about potential hazards and committing various health or safety violations are also common examples of a property owner’s failure to provide safe conditions.

Securing Full & Fair Compensation

By filing a personal injury claim on the basis of premises liability law, injured victims will have the opportunity to present evidence that a premises owner failed to uphold their legal duty – a duty to keep visitors and guests safe from preventable harm. Proving this element is no easy feat, and it demands the attention of a seasoned personal injury attorney. At Duncan Law Group, a Chicago personal injury lawyer can assist you in conducting investigations, securing the necessary evidence, and negotiating or litigating on your behalf. As slip and fall accidents commonly involve large corporations and businesses, working with resourceful, experienced, and bold attorneys is also of the utmost importance.

Securing full and fair compensation is always the ultimate goal in personal injury cases. By working with the firm, you can learn more about your rights and about the ways in which Attorney Bob Duncan can use his exceptional legal abilities to maximize the recovery of your damages. If you or your loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident on another’s property, do not hesitate to assert your rights and retain the help of a passionate attorney. For more information, contact Duncan Law Group today.