A slip and fall accident happens when a person slips, trips, or falls and gets injured on someone else’s property. Slip and fall accidents can lead to serious injuries including brain damage, hip fractures, spinal cord injuries, and sometimes, even death. The National Safety Council reports that these accidents are the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths. The consequences of these accidents can be life-changing, yet many people do not pursue legal remedies through a slip and fall lawyer as they may believe one of four myths about slip and fall accidents.
The accident may entitle the victim to file a premises liability claim against the owner or manager of the property. This may be the case if there was negligence on the part of the owner and they failed to maintain the property in a reasonably safe condition for the visitors. Common examples of failure to maintain property include defective sideways, wet or slippery floors, and broken staircases. Four common myths about these accidents are:
1. It Is Better To Settle Quickly Or Accept The Insurance Company’s Settlement Offer.
Property owners and their insurance companies will try to convince the victim to settle for lesser compensation than they deserve. They will also try to include settlement terms that may bar the victim from pursuing further legal remedies. The risk in agreeing to such a settlement without speaking to a slip-and-fall lawyer is that the victim will never fully know his or her legal rights. This may lead the victim to accept an offer much lesser than what the court may award.
2. Owner’s Incapacity To Pay Will Bar Your Claim
Property owners frequently use the excuse that they do not have enough money to pay compensation. A Brooklyn slip and fall accident lawyer may help you with knowledge about the true assets of the owner and the insurance they carry through the court process.
3. You Can Get Compensation Only For Major Visible Injuries
Many people believe that they can recover compensation only for serious and visible bodily injuries. However, this is not true. The victim can also claim compensation for internal bodily injuries and minor injuries that may fully show their effect only after a certain period of time. Therefore, it is imperative to see a doctor after a fall accident to ensure that all injuries receive proper medical evaluation.
4. If You Did Not Sue Immediately, You’ve Lost Your Right To Sue
The victim may not immediately feel the impact of the injury after the accident. Sometimes , the impact of the injury may be so severe that the victim may take a few days to fully understand its impact and then pursue a legal remedy after recovering. In Brooklyn, the injured person generally has a time period ranging from 90 days to three years to file a claim against the property owner.
Other common myths include believing that pursuing legal remedy makes one look greedy, or that the victim cannot sue if there was a warning sign, believing that one does not need a slip and fall injury lawyer, or assuming that litigation is unnecessarily expensive and time-consuming.
Working With a Top-Rated Brooklyn Slip And Fall Lawyer at the Law Offices of Denis Davydov
Dealing with the legal aftermath of a slip and fall accident can be a complex process. It may involve multiple parties including insurance companies, property owners and managers, or even product manufacturers. Contact us today at the Law Offices of Denis Davydov for a free consultation with a top-rated Brooklyn slip and fall accident lawyer to fully and correctly understand your legal rights. Our attorneys work hard to ensure that our clients receive the justice they deserve.
