Slip and fall accidents are unfortunately all too common during the winter months. If you slip and fall on snow or ice at a retail store in Indiana, you may be wondering if you have any legal recourse. The good news is that under Indiana law, retail stores do have a duty to keep their premises safe for customers. This means that if you slip and fall on snow or ice at a retail store in Indiana, you may have grounds to sue the store for premises liability.
Continue below to learn how slip, trip, and fall accident lawsuits work when caused by snow and ice, plus which Indiana law firm to trust for seasoned premises liability representation.
Premises Liability Law in Indiana
Slip and fall accidents can occur any time of year – including in the winter when surfaces are wet, icy, and slushy. Premises liability law is the legal doctrine that holds property owners and occupiers responsible for accidents and injuries that occur on their property. This includes slip and fall accidents, which can be caused by a number of different hazards, such as ice, snow, or slippery surfaces.
Types of Premises Liability Cases
There are three main categories of premises liability cases: trip and falls, slip and falls, and stairway falls. Trip and fall cases are the most common, followed by slip and falls. Stairway falls make up the smallest percentage of premises liability cases. Most premises liability cases involve negligent property owners or occupiers. This means that the property owner or occupier did not take reasonable care to find and fix the hazard that caused the accident. In some cases, the property owner or occupier may have known about the hazard but did nothing to fix it. Moreover, a property owner can be held liable if they failed to conduct reasonable inspections as well.
Filing a Premises Liability Claim After a Slip and Fall Accident
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, you may be able to file a premises liability claim against the property owner or occupier. To do this, you will need to prove that the property owner or occupier was negligent in some way. You will also need to show that your accident was caused by the property owner or occupier’s negligence. If you are successful in your claim, you may be able to recover damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You may also be able to recover punitive damages, which are designed to punish the property owner or occupier for their negligence. Once you obtain a verdict or settlement against the property owner or occupier, you can collect that money from their insurance carrier.
How to Protect Yourself as a Slip and Fall Victim
If you slip and fall at a retail store in Indiana, be sure to take pictures of the scene, ask the property owner or occupier to keep video of the fall and the 3 hours before the fall and 3 hours after the fall and get the contact information of any witnesses. Then, consult with an experienced Indianapolis personal injury attorney to discuss your legal options. With the right legal help, you may be able to recover damages for your injuries and hold the store accountable for its negligence under Premises Liability Law.
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney today to discuss your case. Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced premises liability lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana. We represent clients all throughout the state and Indiana and residents of other states injured in Indiana.
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