“Slip and fall” is a generic term for an injury that occurs when someone slips, trips or falls as a result of a dangerous or hazardous condition on someone else’s property and may include falls as a result of water, ice or snow, as well as abrupt changes in flooring, poor lighting, or a hidden hazard (such as a gap or hard to see hole in the ground). The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control estimates that in 2004 more than 8 million people were injured in falls.

If you are on someone else’s property and are injured as a result of a dangerous condition on the property, the landowner or business proprietor may be liable for your injuries. If you are a property owner and someone injures himself on your land, you may find yourself legally responsible for his or her injuries. Either way, you should seek the advice of an experienced personal injury lawyer right away. While there is no precise way to determine when someone else is legally responsible for your fall, important factors include how much care everyone involved was taking.

Injuries from slip-and-fall accidents can range in severity. A victim may sustain bruises, broken bones, or scrapes that require minimal medical treatment and heal relatively quickly. Other victims suffer a catastrophic injury such as a brain or spinal cord injury that causes lifelong damage and requires ongoing medical care. In the worst care scenario, the victim dies because of the injuries. If this is the case, and the accident occurred because of the property owner’s negligence, then the death is considered a wrongful death. If you have been the victim of a slip and fall because of someone else’s negligence, you may be able to recover medical bills, wage loss, pain and suffering, potential future medical expenses, and lost earning potential.

If you have further questions, a Montana Injury Lawyer can give you specific information and advice about your particular situation.  Please contact one as soon as possible if you believe you have a “slip and fall” claim.

Additional Resources