If you slipped and fell on someone else’s property in Hickory, North Carolina, you may be able to hold the owner or manager liable for your injuries. Slip and fall injuries can have devastating effects on victims, including long-term or permanent disability. These incidents are also especially dangerous for older adults, who may have a more challenging time recovering from serious injuries like broken bones.
Contact Ted A. Greve & Associates for a free consultation with our experienced slip and fall injury lawyers in Hickory, NC. We’ll review the incident that caused your injuries, help you determine the liable parties, and walk you through the process of seeking the compensation you deserve.
Understanding Slip and Fall Injuries in Hickory, NC
Slip and fall injuries can affect various parts of the body, from head injuries to broken bones to soft tissue damage. The following are some of the most common and serious injuries slip and fall victims suffer from in Hickory, NC:
- Spinal Cord Injuries – SCIs can vary in severity depending on the extent and location of the damage to your spinal cord. Your symptoms can range from tingling and numbness in your extremities to partial or complete paralysis. In general, the higher up your spine the damage occurs, the more of your body it can affect.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries – TBIs can occur if you strike your head on the ground or another object, like a table, when you fall. These injuries can cause dangerous brain bleeding and swelling and, in severe cases, may result in permanent cognitive and physical disability.
- Broken Bones – Broken ankles, wrists, forearms, collar bones, and hips are frequent injuries suffered by victims of slips and falls. Depending on the severity of the break, these injuries may result in a permanent loss of mobility even after surgical treatment and extensive physical therapy.
- Soft Tissue Injuries – These injuries affect the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. They can become strained, sprained, or torn depending on how you fall. The soft tissues in your ankles and knees are at particular risk during a fall.
Why You Need a Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer
A slip and fall lawyer’s job is to handle all aspects of your case while you focus on your recovery. They’ll identify the at-fault parties and help you gather evidence to hold them liable for your injuries. And they’ll represent you in insurance negotiations and at trial if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement.
Insurance companies frequently try to deny claims or reduce their value to increase profits. They may initially deny your valid claim, hoping you will give up and not continue to seek the compensation you deserve. Or they may offer a low settlement, hoping you won’t know the actual value of your case.
One of a slip and fall attorney’s most important roles is to fight for your rights and push back against these insurance company tactics. With a lawyer on your side, the insurance company is more likely to engage in good-faith negotiations and work toward a solution both parties can be happy with.
Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall Accident
After a slip and fall accident, there are several steps you should take to improve your well-being and strengthen your legal claim for compensation.
Immediate Actions: Seeking Medical Attention
You should always seek medical attention immediately after a slip and fall accident. This medical attention can prevent your injuries from worsening, catch hidden injuries that may not have begun displaying symptoms yet, and show the insurance company that you took your injuries seriously. It’s also important to continue following up with your treatment until you recover.
Gathering Evidence: What to Document at the Scene
As long as your injuries allow for it, you should attempt to gather the following evidence from the accident scene:
- Photographs or videos of the hazard that caused you to slip and fall
- Photographs of your visible injuries
- Names and contact information of eyewitnesses
- A copy of the incident report filed by the property owner or police
Why It’s Important to Avoid Speaking to Insurance Companies Directly
North Carolina uses a contributory negligence system that prevents plaintiffs from recovering damages for injuries they contributed to in any way. It’s crucial to avoid directly speaking to insurance companies because they will try to use your words against you. They will try to get you to say something they can use as evidence that you are partially responsible for the incident, thus barring you from recovering damages.
Legal Process and Compensation for Slip and Fall Cases
The first step toward recovering compensation for injuries suffered in a slip and fall accident is to serve a demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurance company. This letter outlines your injuries, the accident, and the compensation you’re seeking.
At this point, the insurance company may accept, deny, or attempt to negotiate your claim. If it denies your claim, or if you aren’t happy with the settlement it offered, you can file a personal injury lawsuit with the help of your lawyer.
The defendant will then have a chance to respond to your lawsuit before your case moves into the discovery phase. This is when the parties share evidence before entering settlement negotiations. If a settlement still can’t be reached, your lawyer will take your case to trial and seek the maximum compensation.
Through a personal injury lawsuit, you can seek compensation for your various losses related to the incident, including:
- Past and future medical expenses, including surgeries, physical therapy, medical devices, and other treatments
- Wages you lost while recovering from your injuries and wages and work benefits you will lose because of your injuries
- Physical pain and emotional suffering experienced because of your injuries
- Disability accommodations, such as modifying your home or vehicle to be wheelchair accessible
Contact Ted A. Greve & Associates Today
If you were injured in a slip and fall incident in Hickory, NC, contact Ted A. Greve & Associates for a free consultation with a skilled personal injury lawyer. Our firm has extensive experience seeking the compensation our clients need after suffering injuries, and we’re prepared to fight for your rights.
