Did you know that in order to become an attorney in the United States, one must first earn a bachelor's degree. They must then apply to and get accepted to a law school, where they will spend three to four years studying law, specifically. They then have to pass a bar exam in order to legally be allowed to practice in their state. It's no secret that lawyers are well-educated, and they can get the job done when you need them to. Rely on a general attorney for your legal and representation needs, and dig into this blog to learn more about the profession.
3 Things To Know About Slip-And-Fall Accidents
Many people assume that having a simple slip-and-fall accident is enough to sue and get major compensation out of somebody. However, there are a lot of elements that must be present in order for you to even qualify for a lawsuit like this. Here is what you need to know about slip-and-fall accidents.
The Injury Must Be Serious
While the first point may seem obvious, you must be seriously injured from a slip and fall in order to sue somebody for damages. The main purpose of an accident like this is to sue to receive compensation to pay for your medical bills, and if your injuries are minor, such as just having some bruises, you are not going to have an injury case worth taking to court. You'll also have a hard time finding a lawyer to take on your case because there is no chance of you winning.
There Must Be Negligence Involved
As a property owner, there is an expectation that you will maintain your property in a way to prevent accidents. If you own a home, that may involve making sure that the steps going up to your front door are safe and not in a condition that can lead to a nasty fall. If you own a business, you want to make sure the sidewalk leading up to your business isn't uneven and could cause someone to trip on a raised piece of concrete.
Deciding not to fix potential hazards that have been present for a long time can be considered negligence, and this is an important aspect of a personal injury claim. You must demonstrate that the accident could have been prevented, but the responsible party decided not to. For example, if you are in a grocery store and there is a spill in the middle of an aisle, not cleaning up the spill would be an act of negligence.
The Responsible Party Must Have Had Time To React
Slip and fall can happen for a variety of reasons, but the responsible party can only demonstrate negligence if there was time to react and prevent the fall from happening. For example, if freezing rain just started and created some slippery ground conditions, having a slip and fall on a patch of ice that was just created would not be something the property owner could have reacted to and prevented. Property owners cannot foresee every potential hazard before they happen, which is why you'd have a hard time winning a case like this.
Contact a personal injury attorney for more information.