I Tripped and Fell On Hole In Paver
For many of us, walking down the street is a normal part of life. But, for some, this can lead to a trip and fall. This can lead to a lot of expenses and medical problems. When this happens, it can be difficult to know what to do. Thankfully, you might be able to call on help from a personal injury lawyer. Let’s take a closer look at how this process works.
What Can Cause You To Fall On A Paver?
There are several reasons why you might have a trip and fall accident on the sidewalk. First, there might be a hole in the pavers. This can make it easy for you to lose your footing, causing you to trip over and hurt yourself. In other cases, there might be missing pavers or cracked pavers. These can cause water to pool on the sidewalk, making it slippery.
What Injuries Can A Trip And Fall Cause?
Everyone can have a trip and fall accident, especially if the pavers aren’t in good condition. However, there are a few groups who might be at increased risk of a serious injury. These include people with pre-existing disabilities and the elderly. Parents with strollers might also be at risk, particularly if they were distracted by their children.
There is a range of injuries that you might encounter after you have a trip and fall accident. First, you might end up with a broken arm or leg. You might also break a rib or damage your hip. A more serious concern is if you land on your spine or head. This can lead to major-long term damage. In some cases, you might be left with a lifelong disability.
Who Is Liable For Your Trip And Fall Accident?
In most cases, you’ll be able to get compensated for the injuries you suffered as a result of the trip and fall accident. However, first your personal injury lawyer will need to determine who is liable. This will often depend on where you were when the accident occurred.
First, if the pavers were in a residential or business area, the owner of the property will have premises liability. This means that they will be responsible for making sure that the area is kept free of obstacles, this includes things like snow in winter climates. They will also be responsible for making sure that the paver has been maintained properly. In some cases, the owner will need to repair it themselves. In other cases, they’ll need to contact the local council and alert them to the problem. The council will then fix the paver and charge the owner for the costs.
In other cases, the sidewalk might not be adjoining private property. In this case, the government will often be liable for maintaining it. Because of the thousands of miles of pavers that they need to look after, the rules will be different from those that apply to the owners of a private residence. While it might be more difficult, you can still pursue a claim against the government.
What Do You Need To Prove To Get Compensation?
There are a few things that you’ll need to do to get the compensation that you deserve. First, your lawyer will need to show that the owner knew, or ought to have known, about the dangers on their property. There are a few ways that you’ll be able to demonstrate this. For example, your lawyer might be able to find out how long the pavers have been damaged. In other cases, they might be able to show that the owners of the property caused the damage. The next aspect that they’ll need to show is that your injuries were caused as a direct result of the property owner’s negligence. Medical reports and doctor’s assessments can often help with this aspect of the claim. If your personal injury lawyer can establish negligence, that party will be liable for your injuries.
You might need to consider the circumstances where the accident occurred. For example, if the person invited you there, or knew that you might be there, they will need to make sure that the area is safe. However, if you were trespassing, or acting irresponsibly, they might not have any duty of care to you. Even if you were partly to blame for the trip and fall, you might still be able to get a reduced compensation payment. In this case, your compensation will be reduced, according to how much blame you shared in the accident.
The best way to establish premises liability is by gathering plenty of evidence. This can include taking pictures of the scene of the accident and getting the contact details of any witnesses.
What Can You Claim For?
There are several things that you will be able to claim compensation for. First, you’ll be entitled to any medical expenses that you need to pay. This can also include any dental treatments and medicines that you needed to buy. To make sure that you’ll be able to claim these expenses, make sure to keep any receipts and medical reports that you receive.
You can claim for any wages that you lost if you were unable to work. You might also be able to claim for any pain and suffering. This can include mental health issues or any lifelong disabilities that you’ll need to live with. Often, calculating the amount that you’ll be entitled to can be very difficult. Thankfully, a good personal injury lawyer will be able to help you do this.
Conclusion
A trip and fall accident because of a hole in paver can cause devastating injuries. In some cases, you’ll need to spend weeks recovering in a hospital. Thankfully, you’ll be able to use a personal injury lawyer to make sure that you’ll get the compensation that you deserve. They’ll be able to guide you through this complex area of law, to get a great outcome. So, if you’ve been injured, get in touch with a personal injury lawyer to find how they can help you. Call today for your free consultation: 954-951-0000.