According to U.S. law, all employers have a duty of care to their employees; they have to provide them with a safe working environment. However, many employers do not take this responsibility seriously enough. This results in thousands of workplace accidents occurring each year. While some accidents are minor, such as a bumped knee or a bruised elbow, others are more serious, even fatal.
One of the most common causes of accidents in the U.S. is slips, trips, and falls. These accidents usually occur due to wet floors,debris or clutter on the floor, and almost all can be avoided with the appropriate implementation of safe working practices.
Despite this, many workplaces in America choose not to implement these practices, which is why so many accidents occur each year. If you’ve been involved in a slip or fall accident and you want to find out more about this type of accident and what your rights are, keep reading below:
Slip and Fall Claims
A slip and fall injury is a premises liability claim. This sort of personal injury case or claim is built on a person tripping, slipping, or falling on business premises and suffering an injury. The injured person is entitled to seek compensation from the business where the accident happened.
However, property owners may argue that they don’t have to compensate the injured party. If they choose to do this, there are two defenses they can use:
- Lack of negligence – the property owner can argue that they did not create the condition which caused the person to slip or fall before the injury occurred.
- Lack of fault – the property owner can also argue that the injured party was responsible for their injury.
What Injuries Can Occur from a Slip or Fall Accident?
Slip and fall accidents can cause a range of injuries. While some people are lucky enough to get away with a bruised knee after falling or slipping at work, others suffer more severe injuries, such as broken bones. Another common injury after a slip or fall accident is a reaction injury from jerked muscles.
Filing a Slip and Fall Claim
Anyone injured at work can seek compensation from the property or business owner. However, not all claims are successful. To increase your chances of a successful claim, it’s advisable to contact a lawyer who deals with personal injury cases. They will not only be able to tell you whether you have a case but will also be able to get you the compensation you deserve.
Slip and Fall Claims: What is the Statute of Limitations?
In the U.S., an injured party has up to two years after an accident to file a claim. A failure to do so could mean you forfeit your right to sue. However, if the party responsible for the accident is a government agency, the deadline is often shorter. In these cases, you have:
- One year to claim against a state agency or a county agency.
- Six months to claim against a city agency.
Thousands of people are injured in the workplace each year. The most common cause of injury is slips, trips, and falls. Thankfully, employees or customers involved in workplace accidents are entitled to claim compensation against their employer or the property owner. For more information, contact the lawyers at Cadell Reynolds.
- Fort Smith – 122 North 11th St., Fort Smith, AW 72901
- Fayetteville – 509 E Millsap Rd., Suite 102, Fayetteville, AR 72703
- Rogers – 211 North Second St. Rogers, AR 72756
- Jonesboro – 3000 Browns Lane, Jonesboro, AR 72401
- Little Rock – 10809 Executive Center Drive, Suite 111, Little Rock, AR 72211
Call now for a free consultation on (800) 671-4100.
