Can a Store Be Held Responsible for a Slip and Fall on a Wet Floor?
It is estimated that about one million people visit the emergency room each year due to slipping on wet floors. A slip and fall can result in catastrophic injuries, resulting in extensive medical expenses. If you slipped on a wet floor in a business establishment, the store can be held responsible if the store owner knew about the spill but failed to clean it up.
Our legal team has seen the devastation that a slip and fall can have on an individual and their family. At Raybin & Weissman, our Nashville slip and fall lawyers are dedicated to helping you recover the fullest compensation after an accident in a store or business property.
Common Injuries from a Slip and Fall
A slip and fall in a store can result in any of the following injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Neck injuries
- Hip fractures
- Dislocated shoulder
Tennessee Slip and Fall Laws
In Tennessee, a store owner can be held responsible for any injuries you suffer in a slip and fall if the owner knew or should have known about the hazard. For instance, if a spill was present for a significant amount of time, it is presumed that the store owner should have been aware of it. Tennessee premises liability law assigns different levels of liability, with store owners owing customers the highest duty of care.
The elements of a slip and fall case can be broken down as follows:
- Duty of care: A store owner is responsible for cleaning up spills and other hazardous conditions for customers.
- Breach of duty: A store owner who knows or should have known about a danger but fails to remedy the situation has violated their duty to customers.
- Causation: As a direct result of the hazard, a customer slips and falls.
- Damages: The customer sustained measurable losses due to the slip and fall, such as lost earnings, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.
Limitation Period for Slip and Falls
Under Tennessee law, you only have one year to take legal action for a premises liability claim. Given this limitation, you need to seek legal counsel immediately following a slip and fall injury. If you attempt to forgo representation, you risk failing to ask for the entirety of the damages due to you. At Raybin & Weissman, our Nashville slip and fall attorneys will conduct our own investigation into your accident to prove liability. Once liability is established, we will help you calculate the worth of your slip and fall case.
Slip and fall victims often recover the following:
- Lost wages
- Ambulatory services
- Medical imaging
- Surgeries and procedures
- Physical therapy
- Pain and suffering
- Infliction of emotional distress
- Damage to reputation
- Loss of companionship and society
- Permanent disability
Interested in Learning More? Contact Our Nashville Slip and Fall Lawyers Today
A slip and fall often takes victims by surprise, creating further chaos to an already hectic day. If you or a loved one have recently been injured in a slip and fall, the legal professionals at Raybin & Weissman are here to help. With more than 100 years of combined trial experience, our Nashville slip and fall attorneys have helped slip and fall victims recoup accident-incurred expenses. If you are interested in learning how we can be of assistance, give us a call at 615-256-6666 or contact us online.