Slip and fall accidents in Mississippi are usually caused by dangerous and hazardous conditions one would encounter while on another persons property. While you might not know it, slip and fall accidents are one of the top causes of injuries in the United States. Sometimes injuries are minor. However, injuries can also be serious enough to cause permanent medical conditions and problems that last a lifetime. Back injuries, head injuries, neck injuries, and broken bones are all to common and may even lead to brain damage or paralysis. In addition to those physical injuries, they can cost thousands in medical bills, and you could even be unable to work for an extended period of time while recovering from a slip and fall injury.
Premises liability lawyers are trained to handle slip and fall cases and have the knowledge and expertise to win you full compensation. A premises liability lawyer can prove that the condition that the owner knew or should have known about led to your injury. Thus, the owner is liable for your damages because of his lack of warning, or lack of action to fix the condition. Consultations with a Chhabra & Gibbs, P.A. premises liability lawyer is free and will help you determine if your case is valid and you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, loss of life’s enjoyment, and pain and suffering.
Examples of Premises negligence that leads to slip and falls include:
- Wet floors – If water, another liquid, food, or chemicals are left on a floor, either accidentally or through neglect, it creates a hazard to people using the premises. Restaurant workers have an obligation to remove spilled food and drinks from the floor. Business owners are responsible for both their employees and visitors who slip on liquids while on their property.
- Icy sidewalks or parking lots – Property owners are required to remove ice and snow from walk areas and parking lots to keep employees and the public safe. If this is not done properly, the owner may be found negligent.
- Broken stair railings – It is easy to trip when walking up and down on stairs, so staircases are required to have safe, secure railings for people to hold on to. If railings are loose, broken or missing, it may be negligence.
- Unmarked hazards – Signs must be clearly placed to warn the public and employees of potential safety hazards such as holes in or sloping of the ground, uneven levels of sidewalks and floors in walking areas, bumps in carpet, maintenance work, or wet floors that may still be slippery. Failure to mark the hazard may be evidence of negligence.
- Poor lighting – Property must be properly illuminated to prevent dangers. If you fall and are injured because you can’t see an unmarked hazard due to poor lighting, you may have grounds for a legitimate slip and fall accident case.
Remember, just because you slipped and fell at a property or business, it does not mean your case will be successful. Your slip and fall attorney will need to prove negligence by showing that the owner or manager of the property created the danger, knew about the danger and didn’t handle it properly, and should have known about the danger. It also must be shown that you as a client were owed a responsibility not to be injured, the owner failed in his duty because of negligence, the negligence is what caused the accident, and you were injured as a result.
People are expected to watch where they are going and avoid accidents. If you can be shown to have contributed to the accident by your negligence, such as by talking on the phone and not paying attention, it will affect your claim. In a trial, a jury would determine how much you were responsible for the accident and adjust any award accordingly. If your own carelessness “contributed” to the accident, your settlement amount is reduced based on the percentage you are at fault. There is a statue of limitations on personal injury cases in Mississippi, so contact our offices as soon as possible.
If you or a loved one has experienced a slip and fall personal injury, contact the Mississippi Personal Injury Attorneys at Chhabra & Gibbs, P.A. by calling 601-948-8005 or by going and filling out the contact form or live chat. There is no fee to discuss your case.
