A lot of people do not know that in Des Moines, IA they can hire personal injury lawyers to help them get compensation after an injury caused by a slip and fall. This everyday mishap is regarded as a personal injury by the state of Iowa and, depending on who caused it, damages can be awarded to the victim.
As simple as this type of accident may be, serious injuries can still occur, as is common when the victim is elderly. Pain and suffering, loss of income, disability, and even wrongful death, are some of the very serious consequences that can occur after a slip and fall accident.
Each slip and fall case is different from another, and it takes very experienced personal injury attorneys to know how best to seek damages. Tom Fowler Law firm has some of the best personal injury lawyers in Des Moines, IA. We offer a free initial consultation to all personal injury victims of slip and fall accidents in West Des Moines, IA. Call us today at (515) 203-8434.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
The most crucial requirement of a successful lawsuit is establishing fault, and it requires a look into what caused the accident to occur in the first place. Some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents are listed below.
Wet Surfaces
One of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents that Des Moines IA personal injury lawyers deal with all the time is wet floors. This is most common in cases where the floors of public areas are being cleaned during busy times of the day. If the cleaners fail to provide adequate warning signs, and a fall happens, their employer is held liable for any personal injury caused.
Uneven Floors
Poor workmanship during floor construction, or inadequate maintenance during the period of use, can result in uneven floors. If a fall should happen in such areas, depending on who is responsible, the victim can be awarded damages against either the construction company that made the floors or whoever is in charge of building maintenance.
Poor Visibility
It is the responsibility of whoever manages a building to ensure that there is adequate lighting in all public areas. Failure to do so can be seen as negligence if it results in a personal injury. Overlooking such a simple thing can result in a massive lawsuit should an experienced personal injury attorney be able to prove that the owners of the building were negligent.
Irregular Stairs
Personal injury lawyers sometimes deal with cases where victims fall from stairs that were improperly constructed. Due to the natural way of climbing stairs for most people, any small difference in height of each stair can cause a person to trip and fall. In this case, it is the constructors of the staircase that will face the wrath of personal injury law.
Tripping Hazards
Any items that are left lying around in public walkways can be seen as tripping hazards. An example is when tools are left on the floor in a busy work area. If a worker falls and injures themselves after tripping on these tools, then they can receive workers' compensation from the responsible company.
Nursing Home Neglect
Perhaps one of the most dangerous causes of slip and fall accidents on this list is nursing home neglect. The elderly are particularly vulnerable to slipping and falling, and every nursing home has to ensure their safety.
If personal injury lawyers can demonstrate that the staff was negligent in its duties of taking care of the elderly, huge damages can be won by personal injury attorneys on behalf of the victim.
Faulty Footwear
In cases where an employer has to provide safety shoes for its workers, any slip and fall that is caused by faulty shoes should be brought to the attention of Waukee personal injury attorneys who can win a lot of money for workers' compensation on behalf of the victim.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall
Just as important as taking care of themselves, is the need to ensure that all actions taken by the victim, immediately after a slip and fall accident, are not detrimental to future compensation claims. The following are the steps that should be taken to safeguard the possibility of being awarded damages:
Seek medical treatment
Collect evidence and take photos of the scene
Talk to any witnesses to the accident
Report the incident to the responsible party
Visit Tom Fowler Law firm for a free consultation.
What Personal Injury Lawyers Can Do for You
In the hands of an experienced slip and fall attorney in Des Moines, the chances of winning a slip and fall accident lawsuit greatly increase. There is a lot of legal work that a victim might be unable to do without the help of a great West Des Moines, IA personal injury attorney, such as:
Establishing who is at fault
Collaboration of various reports from witnesses, doctors, and police
Collecting all relevant receipts for medical expenses
Presenting a strong personal injury case to a West Des Moines court
Providing legal counsel during settlement negotiation
Waukee, IA Law on Slip and Fall Cases
From the day the slip and fall accident occurs, the clock begins to tick, and the window period for presentation of a personal injury claim begins to close. In West Des Moines, IA the statute of limitations on personal injury cases is two years from the day of the incident or three years in the case of wrongful death.
To take full advantage of this short period, visit our West Des Moines law offices immediately for a free initial consultation.
Other Waukee Practice Areas
Why You Need Tom Fowler Law Firm
The Tom Fowler Law firm was established specifically to help personal injury victims in the West Des Moines, IA region. Our head personal injury attorney, Tom Fowler, qualified from his respective state bar association and immediately began working to assist the residents of West Des Moines in various personal injury law cases. Most of these involved slip and fall accidents, motor vehicle accidents, workers' compensation, and much more.
If you are a victim of a slip and fall accident, come in for a free consultation at our West Des Moines law firm, and let us take charge of your personal injury case.