One of the biggest misconceptions about personal injury law is that people want to sue others at the drop of a hat.
In reality, many injury victims—including those who have suffered debilitating, disabling, and even life-threatening injuries—are hesitant to sue others or pursue compensation from insurers. That’s because they don’t want to get involved in the legal system, they don’t want to file a “frivolous” lawsuit, or they don’t think their injuries are serious enough to get money.
Unfortunately, slip and fall injuries are among the most likely for victims to suffer from silently and without asking for financial compensation. It’s common for victims to feel embarrassed about slip and fall injuries, and these types of accidents are also frequently associated with fraudulent claims in TV shows and movies, making victims even less likely to come forward.
If Your Slip and Fall Injury Resulted in Serious Injuries, You Can File a Claim
There’s no strict definition for determining when a slip and fall injury is “serious enough” to warrant filing a compensation claim or even filing a lawsuit against a negligent party. Although many people think of slips and falls as resulting in no more than bruised tailbones, they can be disabling and even deadly.
For example, victims have become paralyzed and have even died from falling in grocery stores, restaurants, and in the homes of friends and family members. Others may suffer less traumatic injuries that are still debilitating, such as broken bones, torn ligaments, and nerve damage.
What Types of Economic Damages Do Slip and Fall Victims Face?
Almost all serious slip and fall injuries have one thing in common: they cost victims money. Slip and fall victims may need expensive medical treatments, including ambulance rides to the hospital, surgery, and weeks, months, or years of physical rehabilitation. The costs can quickly add up and overwhelm even the best health insurance policies.
To make matters worse, slip and fall injuries often lead to disability, extreme pain, or both. That can leave victims unable to work for long periods. And if their accidents didn’t occur at work and they don’t have disability insurance, they’re left without income to pay for their medical bills and their families’ day-to-day living expenses.
How Do Victims Know if They Have Economic Damages?
Victims themselves typically know right away or within a matter of days or weeks how expensive their injuries will be—at least, initially. When victims are taken to hospitals or miss several days of work, they know that their accidents will hurt their finances. But they may not know exactly how much money their injuries will cost them.
Insurance companies take advantage of this, especially when they know they can’t win claims. They’ll contact victims soon after their accidents and offer them “lowball” settlements that sound good on paper, but aren’t enough to cover their full range of expenses. Then, when victims accept, the insurance companies are forever off the hook for future expenses or settlements.
Slips and Falls Can Result in Non-Economic Damages, Too
Non-economic damages are more commonly known as “pain and suffering,” and they’re an important part of almost all personal injury claims. That’s because injuries affect victims in ways that go beyond just medical bills and lost income—they can also affect their quality of life.
Because slips and falls are so often disabling, the pain and suffering associated with them can be significant. Victims may be physically unable to enjoy their hobbies and favorite activities, such as spending time with children, grandchildren, and spouses. They may even be unable to get out of bed or sleep without experiencing excruciating pain. Because of how much pain and suffering can affect victims’ lives, it’s important they get full compensation for it.
Our Lawyers Can Determine How Much You’re Owed—Then Fight to Get You Paid
When you file a slip and fall personal injury claim, there’s a good chance that both the party you’re naming as the defendant (the store owner, the home owner, the property manager, etc.) will deny liability. There’s an even greater chance that their insurer will deny their liability or deny your claim. And even if you successfully convince them of liability, they’ll try to pay you as little as possible for your injuries.
That’s just how insurance companies do business. But our lawyers can level the playing field for you and your family. At Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers, our Oklahoma City slip and fall attorneys will collect evidence that proves the property owner’s or manager’s negligence resulted in your injury. Then, we’ll calculate exactly how much money you need to move forward with your life. And finally, we’ll demand fair and square compensation for you.
Don’t let a greedy insurance company make you a victim for a second time. Contact us today for a free consultation.
