Burlington Slip & Fall Accident Attorney
Premises Liability Claims Expertise in Burlington, Iowa
Across all age demographics, slip and fall accidents are a leading cause of personal injury. These accidents most frequently occur when negligence leads to unsafe conditions. Injuries sustained from a slip and fall accident can be life-altering, often causing long-term disabilities and impairment in victims.
In some cases, vulnerable populations in healthcare facilities may face death as a result of these accidents. Filing a personal injury claim can help victims of slip and fall accidents recover treatment costs and hold negligent parties accountable.
Common Causes of Slip & Fall Injuries
Slip and fall accidents leave nearly eight million victims seeking medical treatment each year. These injuries can vary in causation, depending on where the accident occurs. Common locations for slip and fall accidents are workplaces, medical care facilities, and commercial and residential properties.
Workplace Slip & Fall Hazards and Your Rights
Slip and falls are a common type of workplace accident. These mishaps frequently occur when safety standards are overlooked or violated. Unattended spills, floors that are cluttered or crowded with equipment, improper ladder and scissor lift use, and faulty guardrails and safety equipment.
Those who work in construction, manufacturing, and the auto mechanic industry are especially vulnerable to these accidents. If a slip and fall injury occurs during the course of an individual’s employment, they can file a worker’s compensation claim. Additionally, if employers, employees, manufacturers, or other parties were negligent, a victim can file a personal injury claim. In some cases, multiple parties may be at fault.
Preventing Falls in Healthcare Facilities: Who's Liable?
When patients who are determined to be a fall risk are unattended, resulting in a slip and fall, medical facilities can be held liable. These accidents can occur when patients experience difficulty with balance or have injuries that make walking difficult.
In some facilities, a lack of adequate staffing may leave patients unattended for extended periods of time. When a neglected patient requires assistance that isn’t offered, they may attempt to complete tasks such as showering or going to the bathroom alone. This can cause the patient to fall and sustain serious injuries.
Liability for Slip & Fall Incidents on Properties
On commercial properties, such as shopping centers, restaurants, and other businesses, slip and falls most commonly occur due to unattended spills, uneven surfaces, poorly maintained sidewalks and parking lots, and faulty railings. In these instances, business owners and negligent employees can be held liable for injuries.
Slip and fall accidents that occur on residential properties typically result from uneven surfaces, poorly maintained staircases and rails, and icy or slippery sidewalks that go unattended. If a slip and fall injury occurs on a residential property, landlords and property owners may be found negligent. In some cases, a homeowner may be responsible for a visitor’s slip and fall, a situation that is typically covered by homeowner’s insurance.
Understanding the Impact of Slip & Fall Injuries
A variety of injuries are sustained due to slip and fall accidents. These injuries range from mild to severe in nature and can lead to life-altering disability. Nearly 30% of slip and fall accidents lead to serious injuries in victims. Head injuries from impact with flooring or other objects are especially common.
These can range from concussions to traumatic brain injuries. In addition, skull fractures and lacerations can occur. Slip and fall accidents also lead to fractures, broken bones, dislocations, and neck and spinal cord injuries.
Contact a Burlington Slip & Fall Lawyer Today at (319) 318-0450 or Online
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Our Case Results
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$1 Million Workers Slip and Fall
After hearing, the Deputy Workers’ Compensation Commissioner entered an award fully in favor of the Claimant finding him permanently and totally disabled. The Decision resulted in an award with the present value of in excess of $1 million. In addition, the Defendants were ordered to pay the Claimant’s medical expenses for the remainder of his life.
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$450,000 Partial Commutation
In 2013, our client was a truck driver who was fatally injured in a tragic auto accident. He was married at the time and as a result his wife was entitled to Workers’ Compensation benefits. Those benefits would end upon her death or shortly after she were to remarry. The surviving spouse was finding it difficult to live on the weekly Workers’ Compensation benefits and for other reasons wanted to have the money paid in a lump sum.
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Workers’ Comp Appeal Results in Settlement
Pothitakis Law Firm pursued this claim for in excess of three and a half years. Mr. Pothitakis conferenced with the claimant’s doctors and obtained reports over those years to put the claimant in the best position to obtain a favorable result at hearing. When the initial decision was inappropriate, Pothitakis Law Firm filed an appeal and was successful on that appeal.