When someone else's actions lead to your injuries, that person is considered to be negligent. If those injuries led to costs such as medical bills and lost wages, then you might want to consider filing a personal injury case. After all, most personal injury cases hinge on proving negligence. Your first step will be to contact a personal injury attorney, but before you do that, you might want to browse this website and learn a little more about personal injury law and personal injury attorneys, in general. We've provided plenty of helpful articles to ensure you are well-informed, so start reading.
A Failure To Follow Business Codes Might Affect Your Slip And Fall Accident Case
Everyone slips and falls occasionally. But some slip and fall accidents can be absolutely devastating, especially when you have no way of knowing that the building you just entered has a dangerous hazard. Some building owners fail to abide by building codes and end up creating conditions that lead to slip-and-fall accidents.
How Building Codes Might Be Relevant to Your Case
Some building codes must be followed. Failing to abide by them can lead to fines and other criminal penalties for a building owner. Other building codes are only considered to be suggestions. However, even if a business is not required to use a particular set of building codes, the failure to abide by the codes can be used as a reason for why your accident occurred.
The Consequences of Failing to Follow Building Codes
During winter, one of the common problems commercial businesses must solve is wet floors caused by snow carried into the store by customers. If the business has stairs, they can become very slippery. However, a slip-and-fall accident can be even worse if the stairs don't have sufficient lighting because customers cannot see how slippery the stairs are.
Many jurisdictions have building codes in place that govern how much lighting a staircase needs to have. The stairs may have never had adequate lighting or the lights might have burned out and were never replaced. If you can prove that your slip and fall accident occurred due to a building code violation, you will have a much easier time winning your case.
The Importance of Proving Negligence
You are eligible for compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering resulting from your slip and fall accident. However, to receive compensation, you must first prove that the other party is negligent.
An Attorney Can Increase Your Odds of Winning
To know whether the building owner violated any codes, speak with a slip and fall accident lawyer. They will help you understand how local building codes and legal liability apply to your individual situation.
Once your attorney has gathered the necessary evidence, they will assist you in taking legal action against the building owner. While some cases go to trial, your case will most likely involve a negotiated settlement with the building owner's insurance provider. You will then be compensated much more quickly and you will not have to go through an expensive and time-consuming trial.
Reach out to a slip-and-fall lawyer near you to learn more.