Indiana Slip and Fall Lawyer
In Indiana, slip and fall accidents can occur due to various hazards such as wet floors in grocery stores, uneven sidewalks, or icy pathways. These incidents often lead to injuries that disrupt victims’ lives and finances. For example, a fall on a slippery restaurant floor can result in medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress.
Fortunately, victims have the right to seek legal assistance from Indiana slip and fall lawyers to pursue compensation. Whether the fall or slip has happened on private or public property, we ensure you receive rightful compensation for your injuries and damages.
Contact our law firm to schedule a free case evaluation with our Indianapolis slip and fall lawyer. Our personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients don’t have to pay for our legal services unless we win their slip and fall case.
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Contact our Indiana slip and fall lawyers to schedule a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information shared with your Indiana slip and fall lawyer remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
Statistics on Slip and Fall Accidents in Indiana
According to the Indiana State Department of Health Statistics, unintentional falls are a major cause of fatalities among older adults in Indiana.
Individuals aged 65 and above make up 82.1% of all fall-related deaths and 71.8% of nonfatal fall-related hospitalizations in the state.
In Indiana, falls are the primary cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the senior population, accounting for 53.0% of TBI fatalities and 47.1% of TBI hospitalizations.
The projected lifetime costs of fall injuries in 2013 for Indiana residents aged 65 and older are estimated to be around $740 million.
Each week, there are approximately 880 emergency department visits among residents aged 65 and older, with 240 hospitalizations and 8 deaths resulting from fall injuries in Indiana.
The state has a fall-related death rate of 58 per 100,000 individuals.
The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) reports that slip-and-fall accidents lead to approximately $70 billion annually in workers’ compensation and medical expenses. Total injuries from falls cost around $14 million annually.
Approximately 95% of all slip-and-fall accidents lead to settlements rather than going to trial.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1 in 4, or around 14 million, older adults fall each year.
The CDC also notes that 1 in 5 falls results in nonfatal injuries such as broken bones or head trauma.
Over 95% of hip fractures are caused by falls. Within one year of a hip fracture, a patient’s mortality rate ranges from 14% to 58%.
What is a Slip and Fall Accident Under Indiana Law?
Indiana defines a slip and fall accident as an incident where a person is injured due to slipping, tripping, or falling on another person’s property. These incidents often arise from hazardous conditions or the property owner’s negligence.
Property owners in Indiana have a legal obligation to maintain safe premises for visitors. If they fail in this duty and a slip and fall happens, they could be held accountable for the victim’s injuries and damages.
Key aspects of slip and fall accidents under Indiana law include:
- Duty of care: Property owners must maintain safe premises for visitors by addressing hazards and warning of dangers.
- Negligence: If the owner fails to address hazardous conditions, they may be considered negligent and held responsible.
- Liability: Property owners can be held liable for the victim’s injuries and damages if their negligence contributed to the slip and fall accident.
- Comparative fault: Indiana follows a comparative fault rule where compensation may be reduced based on the victim’s degree of fault.
Consulting a knowledgeable slip and fall lawyer can help victims gather evidence, maximize compensation for injuries, and receive the legal support needed to pursue a slip and fall lawsuit.
Top Causes Behind Slips and Falls in Indiana
In Indiana, slip and fall accidents are often caused by negligence on someone else’s property. Common causes of slips and falls happening in Indiana include:
- Wet or slippery floors from spills, leaks, or rainwater
- Uneven or damaged surfaces such as cracked sidewalks or floors
- Poorly maintained stairways or handrails
- Inadequate lighting
- Cluttered walkways or pathways
- Weather-related hazards like ice and snow on walkways
Property owners have a duty to maintain safe conditions for visitors, and when they fail to do so, it can result in injuries to individuals on their premises.
Types of Indiana Slip and Fall Accident Cases We Handle
The Injury Lawyer Team in Indiana specializes in handling slip and fall accident cases, providing legal representation to individuals who have been injured due to negligence on someone else’s property. These cases can occur due to different reasons like slippery floors, uneven surfaces, poorly maintained walkways, or inadequate lighting.
The team handles any personal injury claim or lawsuit related to various scenarios, such as:
- Retail store incidents: Slip and fall accidents in grocery stores, malls, and other shopping venues.
- Restaurant slip and fall cases: Falls caused by slippery floors or other hazards in dining establishments.
- Hotel and hospitality incidents: Accidents occurring in hotels, motels, or other accommodation facilities.
- Apartment complex accidents: Falls due to poorly maintained walkways, stairways, or other common areas in residential complexes.
- Public premises accidents: Falls on sidewalks, parking lots, or other public spaces.
- Workplace slip and fall cases: Accidents occurring in office buildings, construction sites, or other work environments.
- Recreational facilities: Falls in gyms, parks, or other recreational areas due to unsafe conditions.
Our experienced slip and fall lawyers guide clients through the legal process, helping them gather evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
For example, if a customer slips on a wet floor in a grocery store and sustains injuries, our slip and fall attorneys can help the injured person file a claim and achieve a favorable outcome.
Establishing Liability in an Indiana Slip and Fall Accident
When you have suffered a slip and fall injury in Indiana, it’s important to understand the different levels of liability that property owners may have. Establishing liability is based on the duty of care owed to you, depending on your status on the property at the time of the slip and fall incident:
Invitee
Invitees, such as guests at a restaurant or visitors at a museum, are owed the highest duty of care. A property owner must actively seek out and remedy unsafe conditions or mark them to prevent harm.
Licensee
Licensees, such as a family friend visiting a home or a club member at a recreational facility, are owed protections including warnings about known hazards and the duty not to cause intentional harm.
Trespasser
Any property owner owes trespassers a minimal duty of care. They must refrain from intentionally harming trespassers or increasing the risk of harm.
Understanding these classifications and the legal complexities of a slip and fall case can be challenging. Consulting with an experienced Indiana slip and fall lawyer can help you establish liability, pursuing full and fair compensation you deserve.
Indiana Slip and Fall Statute of Limitations
In Indiana, the statute of limitations for filing a slip and fall lawsuit is two years. This means you have two years from the date of the injury to file a complaint in court. The clock starts running on the day of the fall injury or slip and fall accident. If you only suffered property damage, such as breaking an item during the fall, the two-year limit still applies to filing a slip and fall claim for repair or replacement costs.
It’s essential to adhere to this timeframe to preserve your legal rights. Contact a slip and fall attorney to ensure you meet the filing deadline and understand your rights.
Comparative Negligence Law in Indiana Slip and Fall Claims
To pursue a successful Indiana slip and fall claim, you must prove the property owner’s negligence caused your injury. Property owners often counter by arguing you share some blame for the accident due to your negligence. Under Indiana’s comparative negligence law (Indiana Code § 34-51-2-6), financial recovery is barred if your fault is more than the combined fault of others involved in the incident.
This rule allows you to recover compensation as long as you are not more than 50% responsible for the accident. Any compensation awarded will be reduced proportionally to the percentage of blame assigned to you. For example, if you are awarded $20,000 but found 10% at fault, your compensation would be reduced by $2,000.
Talk to an experienced slip and fall attorney who can determine your share of fault percentage in the accident and seek rightful compensation.
What Compensation is Available for Slip and Fall Accident Claims?
Victims of slip and fall accidents may be entitled to various forms of compensation. The specific types and amounts of damages awarded in slip and fall cases depend on the circumstances surrounding the incident. Economic damages cover tangible losses like medical bills and lost income, while non-economic damages address subjective losses such as pain, suffering, and emotional impact.
Your Indiana slip and fall attorney can help you seek compensation for these damages:
- Medical expenses: Reimbursement for costs related to treatment, surgery, medication, and rehabilitation.
- Lost wages: Compensation for time away from work due to injury and any loss of future earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering: Monetary awards for physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Emotional trauma: Compensation for psychological trauma and impact on relationships.
- Punitive damages: Punitive damages may be granted to deter future negligence and punish the liable party.
Resolve Your Accident Case With Our Indiana Slip and Fall Lawyer
Indiana slip and fall accident victims have the right to seek compensation for their injuries such as medical expenses, lost income, and emotional distress. If you have been injured after a tragic fall or slip on someone else’s property or premises, seek professional legal support to hold negligent parties accountable.
Our experienced slip and fall lawyers at the Injury Lawyer Team, sponsored by Rosenfeld Law Offices, have helped thousands of victims receive justice and compensation in Indianapolis, Indiana. We handle all legal aspects of your slip and fall case so you can focus on your recovery.
Contact our law firm today at (888) 424-5757 and schedule a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information you disclose with our legal team remains private under an attorney-client relationship.