Slip and Fall Accidents in Pennsylvania Can Result in Serious Injuries
Slip and fall accidents can result in serious injuries. Individuals may fall on wet floors, defective stairs, or rough patches on the ground. Winter brings snow and ice that can cause uneven surfaces, and in the hot, dry months, cement and sidewalks crack and accumulate debris. Pennsylvania law requires that property owners must maintain their premises in a safe manner, avoiding foreseeable harm to others. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries after falling due to a dangerous condition on someone else’s property, you may be able to recover compensation from the responsible party.
Certain physical conditions can make you more susceptible to falling. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), addressing lower body weakness, vision problems, and difficulties with balance can help to prevent falls. It is important to be mindful of balance, since some individuals take medication that increases their risk of falling. Research demonstrates that falling one time doubles your chances of falling again.
The CDC also indicates that accidental falls cause over 90% of hip fractures among adults 65 years of age and older. Hip fractures not only are painful but also can signify a loss of mobility and independence. Falls also lead to injuries such as wrist fractures, torn ligaments, strains, and sprains, as well as facial injuries..
Falling on someone else’s property does not automatically lead to liability, or legal fault, for your resulting injuries. We are all responsible for watching where we are going. However, liability may exist if the injury resulted from a preventable accident or another failure to act on behalf of the property owner. Often, in slip and fall lawsuits, liability rests on common sense – whether the property owner “should have known” of a dangerous condition.
Some slip and fall lawsuits stem from the owner’s failure to perform proper maintenance on the property. If cleaning is skipped, or a repair is overlooked, hazards may develop. Additionally, there are ways to decrease the risk of falling, such as increasing the brightness of light bulbs and the number of light fixtures.
In a personal injury lawsuit, after proving the defendant’s liability, the judge or jury considers the issue of damages. Damages are compensation for medical and hospital bills, losses, and hardships that may be both economic and non-economic. Examples of non-economic damages are loss of consortium, pain and suffering, and depression caused by injuries.
Unlike other states, Pennsylvania does not generally restrict the amount of compensation a plaintiff can recover after an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. Exceptions exist for accidents caused by local government entities, in which situations there is a limit to the amount a plaintiff may recover.
At Needle Law, we litigate premises liability cases on behalf of injured individuals. Our Pennsylvania attorneys have the resources and experience to hold negligent property owners accountable for your harm. We provide a no-obligation consultation and encourage you to contact us today by calling (570) 344-1266 or completing our online form.
