Healthcare facilities represent safety and professional conduct from highly trained individuals, which is why a slip and fall accident is the last thing you expect when you are at a hospital. Unfortunately, medical centers are not immune from hazards that can cause an innocent victim to slip and fall on their premises. Such accidents can happen to anyone, whether you are a patient, a visitor, or someone that’s performing a job-related task (delivery driver, repair services, sales reps, etc.).
A hospital slip and fall injury can be attributed to a number of dangerous conditions, such as:
- Lack of Wet Floor signs around wet or freshly mopped floors
- Uneven floors, pavement, and other walking surfaces
- Broken or poorly designed handrails
- Liquid spills – medications, beverages, etc.
- Water leaks from pipes, sinks, toilets, etc.
- Clutter in aisles and hallways
- Poor lighting
- Worn areas on rugs and floor tiles
- Outdoor hazards – puddles, motor oil, ice, snow, and fruit falling from trees
If you slipped and fell at a hospital due to a condition that staff members of administrators knew about or should have reasonably known about, you may have grounds for a premises liability lawsuit. But navigating the legal system and fighting for the compensation you deserve required guidance and legal advice from a skilled accident injury attorney. During a free consultation, we can answer any questions you have about your legal rights, including, “How much is the average case value of a hospital slip and fall lawsuit?”
To speak with a Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer, please contact the offices of Normandie Law Firm.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$2.5 Million
$1.1 Million
$1.5 Million
$600,000
$525,000
$734,851
Injuries from a Slip and Fall at a Hospital
As you may have guessed, the injuries resulting from your accident is the primary issue at hand when we are talking about slip and fall case values. The angle at which you fall, the level of blunt force trauma, and many other circumstances can cause you to suffer one of more of the following:
- Sprains in the wrists and ankles
- Fractured or dislocated kneecap
- Broken hip
- Broken facial bones
- Traumatic brain injury
- Whiplash
- Dislocated shoulder
- Spinal cord injury
- Soft tissues injuries
- Deep lacerations and associated infections
- Chronic pain
- Injuries to the internal organs (rupturing, for example)
- Nerve damage / paralysis
Other Factors that Determine a Slip and Fall Case Value
Though the exact injuries you are left with play a big role in your settlement value, they are not the only factors we will need to examine. Below is a list of the issues that will help us determine a fair amount of payment to ask for in a hospital slip and fall lawsuit:
- How severe are your injuries? Will they have permanent effects, like brain damage, chronic pain, and loss of function? Will you need long-term or lifelong medical care to manage these conditions?
- Is there another party (other than the hospital) that shares liability for your accident?
- Are you partially to blame for the circumstances that led to your injuries?
- Are you suffering from mental health issues due to the trauma from your accident, such as post-traumatic stress, insomnia, and phobias?
- What are the economic and non-economic damages you are entitled to (medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income, emotional distress, etc.)?
- Was the negligence that caused your accident especially careless or reckless (gross negligence)?
Average Value of a Hospital Slip and Fall Case
Though many people are curious to know what a slip and fall claim is worth on average, this is an impossible question to answer, as no two injury cases are alike. If we look at past settlements and verdicts for lawsuits involving fall-related injuries, $175,000 to $2.5 million is probably a good range to keep in mind. Then again, some people end up with fairly minor injuries that will heal completely in due time. These claims may be worth around $15,000 to $50,000, based on the victim’s financial losses.
However, there are a couple of generalizations that apply to most cases. The value of a slip and fall in hospital case tends to be higher than those in private residences and small businesses. That’s because healthcare facilities have a heightened duty of care to prevent injuries to the general public. In addition, those who are represented by an attorney recover up to 3 times as much as claimants who choose to represent themselves. To maximize your settlement value for a hospital slip and fall injury case, call us right away to schedule a free case evaluation.
Estimated Timeframe to Settle a Slip and Fall Injury Claim
As your legal representatives, we will do everything in our power to secure the payment you are owed within 6 months. Sometimes, the hospital is eager to put the incident behind them and will cooperate with us to achieve a favorable settlement in just a few weeks. But these cases are the exception rather than the rule, based on our decades of experience with fall injury lawsuits. If your claim involves multiple and/or serious injuries, it may take around 12 to 18 months to settle your case. In the event we need to take your case to trial, recovering your payment can take 2 or more years.
Deadline to File a Slip and Fall Lawsuit
Generally, the statute of limitations to sue for a slip and fall injury is two years, starting from the date of the incident. However, the 2-year deadline applies to hospitals that are privately owned. If you were injured at a county or state-run facility, you would need to file a government claim within 6 months of the accident date. That’s why it’s essential to consult a slip and fall lawsuit lawyer right away, who can verify the amount of time you have to take legal action against the hospital. Otherwise, you could end up missing the deadline to file your claim and lose the right to sue altogether.
Second Opinion from a Lawyer Experienced in Slip and Fall Accidents
You may have seen a doctor at some point in your life to ask for a second opinion on a medical diagnosis. But have you considered speaking to another lawyer about a pending accident claim? Here at Normandie, we provide free second opinions on active slip and fall and trip and fall injury cases, no matter where you are in the legal process. One of our attorneys will take the time to answer any questions you have and offer solutions if there are concerns with the way your case is being handled. There is no fee for the consultation, so we hope you’ll take the opportunity of contacting us to schedule a free second opinion.
Contact the Fall Accident Injury Lawyers of Normandie
Statistics have shown time and time again that fall-related accidents are leading source of injury and death throughout the world. Ironically, slip and fall accidents are very common at healthcare facilities, due to careless or negligent acts by staff and hospital administrators. If you’ve sustained injuries from a slip and fall due to a dangerous condition at a hospital, our lawyers are here to advise you or your rights and legal options.
Our law firm has a proven track record of recovery on behalf of slip and fall injury victims. We will fight tirelessly to bring you every penny you deserve, while providing you with free legal services from day one. Under the Zero Fee Guarantee, our expenses are paid by the defendant as a part of your settlement. In essence, we don’t make a penny unless you receive compensation for the harm you’ve suffered.
To speak with an experienced slip and fall attorney in the Los Angeles area, contact Normandie Law Firm.
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