Accidents can happen at any moment in any place. Slip and fall accidents are no exception to this. When an accident happens, injuries that result are often more than just simple cuts and bruises. A slip and fall can leave a victim with temporary or even permanent symptoms that affect their day-to-day life and will also likely experience financial hardship. According to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), more than 1 million emergency room visits in the United States each year are due to slip and fall accidents. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that more than 800,000 older adults require hospitalization each year in the U.S. due to falls, with treatment costs adding up to $50 billion yearly.
Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents
There are several causes of slip-and-fall accidents, however, some situations put you at a higher risk than others. This may include:
- Water or ice on the floor;
- Uneven flooring or surfaces;
- Potholes in streets or parking lots;
- Recently waxed or mopped floors;
- Loose rugs, mats, or floorboards;
- Poorly maintained stairs
- Poorly maintained lighting on walkways or stairs;
- Ice that has not been salted properly or at all.
A victim of a slip and fall may have the right to hold a property owner or lessee financially and legally responsible for the harm suffered if their negligent actions caused the accident to occur.
Damages Available in Slips and Falls
Most personal injury victims are able to collect some monetary compensation for harm suffered due to the fault of another. This payment may occur after a full-blown trial or in an out-of-court settlement. Because cases rarely go to trial, most payouts are the result of a negotiated settlement with the insurance company. The amount of the payout differs depending on the circumstances of the accident, the severity of the injuries, and the applicable law. There are, however, certain types of damages available. These include economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are supposed to “make the victim whole again” by asking how much the victim has incurred in expenses in the past, and how much will likely be incurred in the future, as a result of the accident. Economic damages may consist of medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and loss of future earnings. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are less tangible and include harm such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and others. Typically, economic damages are paid out at a higher amount than non-economic damages.
Nevada is a comparative fault state, meaning that when a victim is found to be partially at fault for the accident that caused the harm his or her monetary award is reduced by the amount of liability that falls on the victim.
Nevada Slip-and-Fall Accident Attorneys
Contact the skilled accident attorneys at H&P Law. We can help fight for your rights under Nevada law to compensation for harm suffered. Whether you are hurt in Las Vegas or any other part of Nevada, our experienced legal team will put together the best case possible—in or out of the courtroom—so that you may be fairly compensated. Contact us today.
