Free Consultation
If you are reasonably fit and healthy, the idea that you could suffer a life-altering injury from just a single accidental fall might understandably seem far-fetched. However, the unfortunate reality is that falling from a high height or onto an unforgiving surface can cause severe physical trauma to just about anyone.
There is no shortage of legal complexities that can play into a standard slip and fall claim, but one thing many people do not think about at first is what types of injuries can justify this sort of case in the first place. With that in mind, here is a brief primer on common injuries in Philadelphia slip and fall cases and what kinds of scenarios a lawyer can help you take legal action over.
When Is a Slip and Fall Injury Serious Enough to Sue Over?
One important thing to understand about slip and fall lawsuits is that not all injuries can serve as valid grounds for a claim. In addition to proving they were hurt due to another person’s reckless or careless failure to live up to a specific duty of care, someone who wants to get a favorable result from a slip and fall injury case in Philadelphia must also be able to prove that their injury was serious enough to require some form of professional medical care.
This is necessary because the entire purpose of personal injury litigation is to help people move on from injuries that were not their fault by holding the person who was at fault liable to pay for their damages. So, if an injury is not serious enough to need treatment from a medical professional, there are no medical bills to serve as compensable damages, which means—in the court’s view—there are no other damages that are worth filing suit over either.
Recovering Fairly for Different Types of Injuries
Of course, even if an injury stemming from a slip and fall accident in Philadelphia is bad enough to warrant filing a civil claim, how that claim plays out, and the financial value of damages sought will change substantially based on the type of injury the claim is built around. For example, a broken arm is certainly a painful injury to suffer from a slip and fall. Still, it should heal completely with time and proper medical treatment. So, only short-term medical bills, income loss, and physical pain would likely be factored into an ensuing civil claim.
For a permanent and debilitating injury like spinal cord damage, though, a comprehensive lawsuit or settlement demand would need to account for:
- Long-term medical expenses
- Lost working and earning capacity
- Years’ worth of physical and psychological suffering
Determining what kinds of losses should be included in a specific claim is one of many things legal counsel can provide invaluable assistance with after this kind of accident.
A Philadelphia Attorney Can Help Pursue All Kinds of Slip and Fall Cases Based on Various Types of Injuries
Understanding what types of injuries will make for a strong slip and fall case in Philadelphia is just the first step of many on the road to civil recovery. Without guidance from a seasoned attorney, you could risk missing out on much or even all of the compensation to which you otherwise would have been entitled.
With that in mind, contacting a slip and fall lawyer should be your number-one priority if you have been hurt in an accidental fall on someone else’s property. Call today for a free consultation.
