Indianapolis Slip and Fall Victims: Do You Know Your Rights?

When you are out and going about your daily business, you expect to be safe. And you have a right to be safe. Indianapolis property owners are required to maintain their property in safe condition and warn of any hazards that a visitor might face. It is their responsibility to prevent injury to customers and guests. It is especially important that they prevent slips and falls.

Slips and falls are a leading cause of injury producing accidents.  More than eight million Americans are injured in falls every year. Falls can have serious consequences; they can lead to broken bones, dislocated joints, back injuries, neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injury and even death. According to the CDC, almost 16,000 people over the age of 65 die each year from fall-related injuries.

Your Rights as a Slip and Fall Victim

If you are injured in a slip and fall and the fall is due to the negligence of a business or property owner, you have rights.

You have the right to compensation for your injuries. Insurance companies know this and they will act quickly in order to save money.  If the insurance company offers you a settlement, don’t sign anything until you’ve talked to an experienced Indiana personal injury lawyer. You don’t want to sign away any of your rights.

If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall, your right to compensation for your injuries may include recovery for medical bills, therapy, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and other damages. The insurance company will often offer an initial settlement that only covers a fraction of these costs. Regardless of what the insurance company offers, if the property owner was at fault, you are entitled to full compensation. However, getting this compensation may be difficult.

In order to receive compensation in an Indianapolis slip-and-fall premises liability case, you must be able to prove ALL of the following in a court of law:

1. There was an unsafe condition at the business or property that caused your fall.
2. The owner, manager, or employees knew about this unsafe condition.
3. There was enough time for warnings to be posted or for the unsafe condition to be repaired, but there were no warnings posted and the unsafe condition was not repaired.

For example, if an elderly woman falls and breaks her hip because the steps at her bank had a loose handrail, she must prove that the bank manager knew the handrail was loose and did not post an adequate, visible warning.

How do you prove negligence in your injury case? Contact Hensley Legal Group. We’ll investigate the accident on your behalf and get the proof you need to receive fair compensation for your slip and fall injury.