Slip and fall accidents happen when you least expect them and can cause serious injuries.
Their unpredictability is made all the more frustrating because most are preventable and usually caused by negligent property owners.
If you were involved in a slip and fall accident, you are probably curious about how much your case might be worth.
It’s crucial to speak to a personal injury attorney soon after your accident to protect your rights as you seek compensation from the responsible party.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Someone can slip and fall for any reason. While anyone can become a victim of slip and fall accidents, understanding the common causes may help prevent these unfortunate events.
Common causes include the following:
- Wet floors,
- Uneven surfaces,
- Unsecured cords and wires,
- Obstructed walkways,
- Inadequate lighting, and
- Damaged or inadequate handrails and banisters on stairways.
When proper precautions are taken, the most common causes of slip and fall accidents are entirely preventable.
Your attorney will investigate the cause of your accident to establish who might be responsible for your injuries.
Factors Impacting a Slip and Fall Broken Leg Settlement Amount
Securing compensation in a personal injury case is not always easy and requires the assistance of a qualified personal injury attorney.
Various factors may influence the value of your slip and fall settlement amount. Your attorney will use these factors to analyze your case and help you choose the best course of action.
The Severity of Your Injuries
A significant factor influencing how much a slip and fall case is worth is how badly you’ve been injured.
Severe injuries result in higher medical bills, higher lost wages, and a higher psychological and emotional impact on your life.
Injuries such as broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries raise the value of settlements because they are severe and can have long-term consequences.
Additionally, if a slip and fall accident results in permanent damage, injured victims may expect a larger payout.
Liability
Determining liability in your slip and fall accident also impacts potential settlement values. For example, settlements are often larger if the other party is solely at fault for your injuries.
New Mexico is a pure comparative negligence state. Pure comparative negligence is good news for an injured victim who may have been partially responsible for their accident.
In a pure comparative negligence state, you may still recover damages even if you are 99% at fault for your injuries.
However, the court will reduce your total compensatory award by your percentage of fault.
Insurance
Many slip and fall cases can be resolved through negotiations with insurance carriers.
However, how much you can recover for your slip and fall claim can also depend on the responsible party’s insurance coverage limits.
Many injured victims find their actual damages exceed the liable party’s insurance coverage limit.
In these situations, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit to pursue compensation directly from the liable party.
What Damages Can I Recover?
If you suffered a slip and fall injury, you are likely wondering, How much is a slip and fall worth?
To better understand how much compensation you might be eligible to receive, you should understand the types of damages available in a slip and fall case.
New Mexico divides compensatory damages into economic and noneconomic damages.
Economic damages include tangible losses directly related to your injury, including:
- Medical expenses,
- Loss of wages,
- Loss of future earnings, and
- Property damage.
Receipts, pay stubs, invoices, and other evidence of financial losses provide the most substantial support for your economic damages.
Noneconomic damages are more complex because they compensate you for subjective harms such as emotional or psychological harm.
Noneconomic damages include:
- Pain and suffering,
- Emotional distress,
- Permanent injury or disability,
- Loss of consortium, and
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
Without an attorney to assist you, recovering noneconomic damages is incredibly difficult.
Noneconomic damages often help injured victims move forward with their life by more fully compensating them for their injuries.
Contact Us
The attorneys at Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C., are dedicated to obtaining favorable results for their clients.
We know injuries suffered in slip and fall accidents can be devastating and seriously impact your life and the lives of your loved ones.
We are skilled negotiators and aggressive litigators.
We aren’t afraid to take your case to trial if necessary. Don’t fight insurance companies or responsible parties on your own.
Let us pursue justice on your behalf so you can focus on your recovery.
Contact us today online or by phone for a free case review.
Alejandro Acosta
Mr. Acosta is a lifelong resident of El Paso. He graduated from Cathedral High School in 2000 and graduated from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio in 2004. Mr. Acosta went on to attend Sandra Day O’ Connor College of Law (Arizona State Law School). He graduated in 2008, receiving his J.D. and his Indian Legal Certificate for his work in Indian Law and dealings with various tribal nations throughout Arizona. Alejandro has been licensed to practice law in Texas since 2008 and has been licensed in the State of New Mexico since 2011.
Rate this Post
Loading...