(866) 590-9773 
Harrisonburg Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident due to someone else’s negligence or carelessness, you may have questions about whether there is anything you can do. You may wonder whether you will have to pay the medical bills yourself. You can find answers to your questions by contacting an experienced Harrisonburg slip and fall accident lawyer.
The legal team at Kendall Law Firm, led by attorney David Kendall, has more than 25 years of experience in personal injury cases including slip and fall accidents. Kendall Law Firm can review the specifics of your slip-and-fall case for free and help you understand your legal options. Call our law office now at (866) 590-9773 or reach out to us online for a free consultation.
Slip and Fall Laws in Virginia
An experienced Harrisonburg injury attorney can evaluate the details of your accident and discuss whether you have grounds for a personal injury claim.
In most cases, you have two years from the date of your slip and fall accident to file a lawsuit, under the laws in Virginia that apply to slip and fall cases. Starting the process earlier is often advantageous because the details of the accident are fresh in your mind and the evidence has not deteriorated. It’s easier to get witness statements before witnesses become difficult to track down.
The second thing you need to know is if you incurred property damage as a result of your slip and fall accident, you might be entitled to compensation for your damaged property. Perhaps your glasses fell off and broke, or the fall caused you to drop something expensive that you were carrying.
Finally, if your family member died as a result of injuries suffered in a slip, trip, or fall, you could be eligible to pursue a wrongful death action against the negligent individual or entity. Your time limit to file this type of lawsuit in Virginia is two years.
Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Occur?
Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere.Slip and fall accidents frequently occur at grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals, hotels, fitness clubs, and nightclubs. Slip and fall accidents can occur inside the business, or outside in an area that the business owner is responsible for maintaining such as a sidewalk or parking lot.
Property owners and managers have a responsibility to take necessary precautions to prevent slip and fall accidents. This includes providing an adequate warning if a dangerous situation exists, such as wet floors. Harrisonburg business owners should erect barricades to prevent customers from entering a location that they know could lead to a slip and fall accident.
Slip and fall accidents can also occur when you are visiting someone else’s Harrisonburg home. If the homeowner did not provide adequate warning about a property hazard such as torn carpet that posed a slip and fall threat, the homeowner could be held responsible for any slip and fall injury.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that falls, slips, and trips are the second leading cause of workplace injury and death. The National Safety Council reports that 244,000 workers had to take days off work in 2019 as a result of work-related slip and fall accident injuries.
While some types of workers such as construction workers are more likely to be injured on the job, slip and fall accidents happen frequently in workplaces across Harrisonburg. For example, in an office environment, loose electrical cords, torn carpet, wet floors, and open filing cabinet drawers are all examples of things that can cause an employee to trip or slip and fall. An employer’s workers’ compensation insurance typically covers injuries an employee sustains in a workplace accident.
How Do Slip and Fall Accidents Happen?
Preventable slip-and-fall accident injuries occur when property owners are careless about their flooring, fail to monitor weather conditions that can create hazards, allow clutter and other obstacles to become hazards, or do not provide adequate lighting.
- Flooring – Issues with flooring are the most common cause of slip and fall accident injuries. Wet floors create a slip and fall hazard, as does torn carpeting, loose rugs, or uneven flooring.
- Outdoor surfaces – Property owners should salt sidewalks and steps in icy conditions, and provide adequate handrails and non-skid mats. They should maintain parking lots by fixing potholes that can lead to trip and fall accident injuries.
- Clear traffic areas – Electrical cords should not present a danger to visitors. Shopping aisles, hallways, and other traffic areas should be clear of debris, clutter, and other obstacles.
- Lighting – Inadequate lighting that prevents visitors from noticing a potential slip and fall accident injury is another common cause of injuries.
Common Slip and Fall Injuries
Slip and fall accident injuries range from bumps, bruises, and mild muscle strains to severe injuries like broken bones and traumatic brain injuries. According to the National Floor Safety Institute, bone fractures are common, occurring in one out of every five falls.
Older people in particular are at risk of suffering severe injuries from slip and fall accidents. Falls are the number one cause of death for seniors.
Other types of injuries include:
- Back injuries such as spine and nerve damage
- Knee injuries
- Ankle and wrist sprains and fractures
- Dislocated joints
- Cuts and bruises
- Broken teeth
Even seemingly minor injuries can create issues for fall and slip accident victims. A construction worker with a sprained ankle may not be able to return to work for several days. An office typist with a broken wrist faces weeks or more of lost income. Some injuries that may appear to heal well in the short term can cause long-term issues later, like knee, back, or head injuries.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident in Harrisonburg
If you suffered a slip and fall accident in Harrisonburg, you need to seek immediate medical attention. Your health and well-being are the first priority. Even if you don’t think the injury is serious, you should seek a medical evaluation. Some injuries such as a concussion may not be apparent immediately, except to a trained medical professional.
Notify the property or business owner or manager of the slip and fall accident. Ask to file a report that documents the accident. Take photos of the accident scene that could support your case, such as loose electrical cords, worn carpet, broken handrails, or inadequate signage for a freshly washed or waxed floor. Talk to any witnesses and get their contact information.
After you’ve notified the property or business owner and filed a report, have as little contact as possible. This is to protect you. Do not sign anything from them or their insurance company.
Contact an experienced Harrisonburg slip and fall accident injury lawyer at Kendall Law Firm. If our firm takes your case, Kendall Law Firm can handle any necessary communications with the property or business owner, and their insurance company.
Slip and Fall Settlements: How Much Compensation Can You Receive?
The compensation available after a Harrisonburg slip and fall accident lawsuit will depend on several factors including the severity of the injuries and the insurance policies available to pay compensation. Generally speaking, you may seek compensation for the following types of expenses and losses through a slip and fall lawsuit:
- Medical expenses – Compensation for past, current, and expected future medical expenses
- Lost wages – For loss of income due to work missed as a result of your slip and fall accident injury
- Loss of future earnings – If your slip and fall accident injury prevents you from returning to work or limits the type of work you can do, you may receive compensation for loss of future earnings or for job training in a new career
- Pain and suffering – This is the most difficult area to calculate, and it depends on the severity and permanency of your injury. If you can no longer enjoy the things you used or have diminished qualify of life, you may demand compensation for pain and suffering
- Incidental expenses – You may seek reimbursement for expenses such as transportation to medical visits and childcare during medical visits and hospitalizations
The best way to be sure you understand your rights and prevent insurance companies from taking advantage of you is to contact the experienced Harrisonburg slip and fall accident injury attorneys at Kendall Law Firm.
Contact a Slip and Fall Attorney in Harrisonburg
Attorney David Kendall and the team at Kendall Law Firm provide top-notch representation to individuals who’ve been hurt in slip and fall accidents in Harrisonburg. With over 25 years of legal experience and prior service as a Judge Advocate General in the U.S. Marine Corps, David Kendall knows how to build a convincing case and seek fair compensation for his clients. Call our offices at (866) 590-9773 or reach out to us online for a free consultation, and you’ll see why we have earned an A+ BBB rating and positive online reviews from clients just like you.