Hazards are everywhere, and it is easy to slip, trip, fall, and get injured. Although most people fall once in a while without long-term effects, many falls cause injuries that lead to significant disruption.
Avoiding dangerous situations is one way to limit your risk. Knowing the common causes of slip and falls in Bartlett could help you stay on your feet.
When you suffer an injury in a fall on someone else’s property, contact a local slip and fall accident attorney. You might have cause to seek monetary damages. An experienced lawyer at Reaves Law Firm, PLLC, could review your situation and explain your legal options.
Wet floors due to weather or spills often cause falls. Property owners must make reasonable efforts to keep floors dry and clear of debris, clean up any spills promptly, and post signs or provide other warnings when floors are slippery.
Owners also must keep their premises relatively neat and in good repair. Obstructions in aisles or walkways, power cords, and carelessly placed furniture could be tripping hazards. Ill-fitting carpets, loose area rugs, warped floorboards, and unmarked elevation changes also could lead to falls.
A landowner must inspect the property to become aware of falling risks on their premises and take steps to avoid injury. If the problem requires substantial time or expense to repair, the owner must prevent visitors from encountering the hazard. A seasoned Bartlett attorney could review the circumstances that led to a fall and determine whether the owner’s efforts were reasonable.
The responsibility for preventing falls does not rest entirely on the property owner’s shoulders. Visitors also must use reasonable care.
Tennessee Code Annotated § 29-11-103 holds injured people accountable when they contribute to the accident that caused their injuries, including in Bartlett slip and fall incidents. If the accident victim was more than 49 percent at-fault, they cannot collect any compensation from other negligent parties.
Customers, visitors, and anyone on someone else’s property must pay attention to their surroundings. They should move at a normal pace and focus on where they are going. An injured person who was rushing or using their phone instead of concentrating on the path ahead is likely to be at least partially responsible for their injury.
Falling is often embarrassing, and those who do are often in a hurry to get up and leave the area. Doing so is unwise. It is better to stay in place until medical help arrives, especially if someone hits their head in the fall. In other cases, a fall victim should get up slowly and cautiously, mindful of possible injuries. They should accept or arrange a ride to an emergency room or urgent care center immediately after the incident.
Obtaining immediate medical care is critical for health reasons, as many injuries that could result from a fall do not present symptoms until some time has passed. However, a trained medical professional knows what to check when a patient presents with a history of a fall and could diagnose an injury before symptoms are apparent.
Another important reason to seek an immediate medical evaluation is to preserve a potential claim against the property owner’s insurance. If an injured person delays seeing a doctor, the insurance company could assert that the injury is unrelated to the fall. Going to a medical professional immediately after the fall provides documentation that the fall caused the injury.
When a fall requires medical intervention, causes you to miss time at work or school, or interferes with your ability to complete your daily tasks, you could have a claim for damages against a negligent property owner. You could receive compensation for the expense, pain, and inconvenience you suffered.
If you did your best to avoid the common causes of slip and falls in Bartlett, you might have a viable claim. Discuss your situation with a qualified attorney at Reaves Law Firm, PLLC, today.
