Floor outlets are installed in order to provide easy access to electrical currents in areas with limited wall space. It’s also useful in large spaces, like conference rooms, where the outlet may be too far away. In addition, floor mounted outlets can be installed anywhere on the ground or floor, either at floor level or just beneath the surface.
These outlets are topped with a socket cover, which are normally flip tops or screw-ins. These covers protect the outlet when it’s not in use, but they can also cause accidents if they are left open. This can happen for a number of reasons, but whatever the cause, it’s the property owner’s responsibility to fix the problem right away. If the issue can’t be resolved immediately, there should be signs to warn people of the hazardous situation. Otherwise, it’s more than likely that someone will trip and fall due to a faulty floor mounted socket cover.
Have you been injured from tripping over a socket cover that was left open or coming off the ground? Monetary compensation may be available to help with your recovery, but you must take action right away on an accident claim. We can help, with our many years of experience in trip and fall injury cases. To speak with an attorney at our law firm, please give us a call without delay.
Common Injuries from a Trip and Fall Accident
Trip and fall accidents over floor mounted socket covers are very common in office workplaces, malls, shopping centers, and many other locations. We have all seen these things, especially ones with flip top covers that are left open. Floor mounted socket covers can also pop open or refuse to stay closed due to wear and tear or a defect with the product itself. Screw-in socket covers may seem like a safer option, but that’s only if they’re in good working order. If the socket cover is broken or uneven, that means it’s not working properly to stay level with floor, which can lead to uneven flooring. All these conditions are major causes of trip and fall injuries, such as:
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Hip fracture
- Broken ribs
- Fractured shoulder / collarbone
- Neck and spinal cord damage
- Damage to the facial bones (broken nose, eye sockets, etc.)
- Missing / broken teeth
- Deep cuts / abrasions
- Hand and wrist fracture
- Ankle strain / sprain
- Soft tissue injuries
- Torn ACL / MCL
- Dislocated kneecap
- Nerve damage
- Scarring / disfigurement
- Chronic pain (CRPS)
- Paralysis
Any one of these injuries can have serious complications, so make sure to seek medical treatment right away after your accident. Aside from your medical needs, you will need proof of the harm you suffered as a result of tripping over a floor mounted socket cover. The best way to do that is through a medical report, which is another reason you must see a doctor right away.
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Can I Sue if I got Hurt from a Floor Mounted Socket Cover?
If your accident was caused by an act of negligence or deliberate misconduct, you have the right to sue the responsible parties for your economic and emotional losses. When it comes to an accident on someone else’s property, the liable entity is usually the premise owner, which can be an individual, a business, or a government / public agency. In order to prove negligence by the owner, or someone acting on behalf of the owner, you will need to establish one of the following:
- There was a hazard on the premises that the owner was aware of, but they did not take reasonable measures to fix the problem (for ex, replacing the broken socket cover or putting up signs to keep people away from the area).
- The property owner or their employee engaged in reckless conduct that resulted in the accident, like neglecting to close the socket cover when it’s not in use.
- The owner was unaware that there was a problem with the socket cover, but they should have known about it through regular cleaning and maintenance.
Proving any of these conditions can be very challenging, and you can expect resistance from the owners when you confront them about a hazardous condition in their building. An experienced premises liability lawyer is your best ally in these situations. Aside from establishing the owner’s liability, we will investigate your accident to see if there are any other parties we can go after (third party lability). Sometimes, trip and fall injuries are caused or aggravated by a technician that failed to properly install the socket. This can lead to socket covers that won’t stay closed or sockets and/or covers that are not level with the floor. If this is the root cause of your accident, you may be eligible for a claim against the installation company.
Monetary Compensation for Your Accident
If you have fallen from tripping over a floor mounted socket cover, you may be eligible for a lawsuit against the property owner. Losses that can be recovered through a trip and fall lawsuit include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income from missed workdays / limited earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage for broken or lost belongings
- Attorney’s fees
- Punitive damages
During a free consultation, one of our attorneys will go over these damages with you and ensure that you receive maximum payment for your injuries. These include emotional injuries, such as mental health issues (PTSD, depression, anxiety, etc.), which many victims struggle with for months or years after their accident.
How much is my Trip and Fall Accident Case Worth?
To give you an approximate value for your injury case, we would have to find out the details of your accident during a one-on-one consultation. However, we can offer you a sense of what these cases are worth, based on our many years of experience with trip and fall accident claims. Cases involving minor injuries, or ones that will fully heal with treatment, may be worth around $15,000 to $30,000. With moderate or multiple injury claims, settlements are generally in the range of $50,000 to $150,000. More serious injuries, like those that result in lifelong complications, can bring in $300,000 to $500,000 and above. If the damage is serious enough to cause permanent disability, $1.5 million or more may be recovered.
Case values depend on many other factors, including the location of the incident. For example, accidents on commercial and government properties are typically worth more than those on private residences. The victim’s age, salary, family commitments, and level of mental anguish are also contributing factors in a settlement award. To learn what you could potentially receive from a trip and fall accident case, please take some time to speak with one of our attorneys.
Statute of Limitations for a Trip and Fall Lawsuit
The time limit to sue for a trip and fall accident is generally two years from the date of your accident. If your injuries don’t manifest right away, your statute of limitations is two years from the date your injury is discovered. The courts are very strict about deadlines for legal actions, and extensions to the statute of limitations are extremely rare. That means you can lose the right to sue if you miss the two-year deadline, even if you are entitled to monetary damages.
How long does it take to Settle these Cases?
You deserve timely payment from the liable party, and it’s our goal to settle your case within the first 6 months of submitting your demands for compensation. But it’s very likely that the first settlement offer from the other side will be much less than what you deserve. It’s our job to negotiate a favorable amount of damages on your behalf, and this back and forth process can take 12 to 18 months, depending on the degree of your injuries. If it becomes clear that a fair settlement cannot be negotiated, it can take 2 years or longer to recover your damages through a personal injury lawsuit.
Contact us for a Second Opinion
Are you in need of a second opinion on your injury case? There are many reasons to speak with another attorney when you have a pending lawsuit or insurance claim:
- Your lawyer is difficult to get in touch with.
- You don’t understand the answers you’re getting from your attorney.
- You have doubts about the settlement offer that your lawyer obtained for you.
- You believe that it’s taking too long to settle your claim.
Our lawyers can address all your concerns during a free consultation at our office. If there are legitimate issues regarding your attorney’s handling of your case, switching your lawyer may be the best option. But it’s important to make an informed choice after considering all your available legal options. If you decide to continue your lawsuit with us, we will take care of the entire transfer process on your behalf. For a second opinion from one of our attorneys, please give us a call at your earliest convenience.
Our Zero Fee Guarantee
Ensuring the safety of one’s property is a legal obligation for owners, but it’s clear that many of them fail to recognize or repair hazards that can lead to serious injuries for their visitors. Fall-related accidents, such as trip and fall and slip and falls, are the leading cause of injury on private and commercial properties. If you have been harmed due to a property owner’s negligence, our lawyers can help you succeed in a trip and fall accident lawsuit.
At our law firm, victims are not responsible for the cost of legal services, which can be substantial in a personal injury case. Our expenses are covered by the party that has wronged you, and that’s only if we win your case. In other words, we get paid at the same time you do, and if we don’t win your case, you won’t be responsible for any legal fees. The lawyers of Normandie are waiting to speak with you, so contact us today and schedule a free case review.
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