How Much is my Slip and Fall Case Worth in California?
Within the state of California, depending on the severity of a slip and fall accident will determine the settlement outcome of your lawsuit case. The amount may also depend on the extent of negligence of the liable party, the expertise and experience of your lawyer and the severity of the accident. Slip and falls mostly happen in grocery stores, parking lots, private facilities, city streets and airports among other places. Negligence is usually involved in these accidents. The property or business owner is responsible for ensuring the environment inside and outside their business premises is safe. This can be done by routine maintenance, inspection and checks of the premises. In this way, if a problem occurs such as broken handrails, they can be fixed in a timely manner. If a problem occurs in business premises and it is not resolved on time, the injured party has a right to file for compensation and recover damages.
To get compensation for an accident where you sustained injuries, you will need to prove the negligent party is liable for the accident. It is important to get a great lawyer who will help to show that the defendant’s negligence caused your accident. The legal adviser will guide you that slip and fall settlements of your case after such accidents will depend on:
The extent of injuries
Falling accidents often cause severe injuries to victims. The extent of physical harm sustained is often calculated by the hospital bills incurred. Moreover, future medical bills will be assessed, determined, and factored into the compensation amount.
Pain and suffering
Accident victims usually suffer from the physical pain and emotional trauma and PTSD on a daily basis. The compensation amount will be determined by how much suffering the injured party endured because of someone’s carelessness and negligence which caused the accident.
Lost wages and income
The worth of the case will also be determined by the lost wages you incurred for missing work after sustaining injuries. If an injured party has suffered career-ending injuries such as spinal cord injuries, they may be able to recover lifetime earnings from the negligent and liable party. If you are unable to carry out some work tasks because of the injuries, you can get compensation for diminished earning capacity.
Extra expenditures
You can file a claim for expenses incurred from your injuries such as travelling fare for doctor’s appointments, therapy, or rehabilitation services. You can also recover the money used on assistive devices, accessibility improvements in your home and any other expense you couldn’t have incurred if you didn’t have the accident.
Punitive damages
The victim can also get compensated for punitive damages, which will be added on top of non-economic and economic damages. Punitive damages are filed where the defendant acted in a very reckless manner and intentional wanton. These damages are awarded to discourage any similar occurrences in future.
Conclusion
Your accident’s compensation worth will depend on many factors such as the amount of lost wages, severity of injuries and the pain and suffering you have gone through. The amount of extra expenditures and punitive damages may also be factored into the final amount. A great lawyer can build a solid case for you and use his/her expertise to ensure you get the amount you deserve for damages incurred.
