Accidents involving falls are normally associated with slippery substances or objects that people can trip over. But we rarely think about the floor or ground on its own, which may be sticky due to improper cleaning and maintenance. This can cause people’s shoes or feet to “stick” instead of moving forward naturally. A slip and fall or trip and fall accident is the likely result, and the injuries from these accidents are often devastating. It’s no coincidence, for example, that over 8 million people visit the ER on a yearly basis due to a fall-related accident. The potential for severe health issues, even death, is especially high for young children and the elderly (over the age of 60).
If you were harmed by falling down due to a sticky floor at a store, restaurant, or any other property, please speak with one of our attorneys right away. You may be able to sue the property owner / manager and recover the losses associated with your injuries. However, there is a limited amount of time to seek monetary damages from these accidents, so don’t delay in giving us a call at our office.
Sticky Floor Hazards that can Lead to Injuries
There are many causes of sticky floors in stores and other types of properties, such as spilled drinks or food that isn’t cleaned up right away. However, sticky floor accidents can happen even if the business is diligent about cleaning. Believe it or not, the leading cause of sticky floors is improper use of cleaning materials, which can occur in the following ways:
- Using a product that’s incompatible with the type of flooring (for ex, using a solution meant for tiles on hardwood floors).
- Too much cleaning solution, which leaves behind a sticky / soapy residue.
- Using dirty water or dirty mop heads, wipes, etc., which can transfer dirt and grime back on to the floor.
- Oversaturated mopping, i.e., using too much water. This can end up pushing dirt and debris around, instead of removing it from the floor.
- Sticky residue from using disinfectant without cleaning the floor first.
In addition to flooring inside a property, sticky substances can also be on the ground outside of the store. Property owners have a legal duty to ensure the safety of these areas as well. If something sticky on the ground causes you to fall and suffer bodily injuries, you may have grounds for a slip and fall or trip and fall lawsuit.
Common Sticky Floor – Ground Accident Locations
Sticky floor or ground accidents can happen in many different locations that you frequent on a daily basis. Here are just some of the places where you can suffer a sticky floor fall injury:
- Supermarkets / grocery stores
- Malls
- Restaurants
- Bars / nightclubs
- Office buildings
- Apartment complexes
- Schools
- Workplaces
- Parking lots
- Sidewalks / walkways
- Elevators
- Decks (private homes, residential buildings, etc.)
- Gas stations
- Movie theaters
- Sports / concert stadiums
- Hospitals
- Hotels / Motels/ Resorts
- Nursing homes / assisted living facilities
- Amusement parks
No matter where you had your accident, it’s essential to find out about your rights and legal options. To ensure that you are compensated for your harm and suffering, give us a call and speak to a fall injury due to sticky floor or ground in store attorney.
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Most Common Injuries from a Sticky Floor or Ground Accident
Frankly, there are far too many injuries that can result from a fall-related accident for us to list them all. Many of these are severe, long-term injuries, which can result from even relatively minor accidents. Slipping or tripping on a sticky floor or ground may result in:
- Fractures in the wrist or hand
- Ankle strain / sprain
- Dislocated / shattered kneecap
- Torn ACL or MCL
- Traumatic brain injury
- Dislocated shoulder
- Broken collarbone
- Whiplash
- Spinal cord damage
- Hip fracture
- Pelvis fracture
- Broken tailbone
- Deep lacerations
- Fractured ribs
- Dental damage
- Broken nose
- Eye injuries
- Jaw fracture
- Nerve damage
Please go to an emergency room or urgent care facility right away to optimize your chances for recovery. Seeing a doctor will also establish proof of the harm you’ve suffered, which you will need in order to file an injury claim against the store or property owner.
Can I Sue for my Injuries from a Sticky Floor Accident?
Yes, you can file a lawsuit if your injuries were caused by an act of negligence. Essentially, property / business owners have a legal duty to ensure the safety of their premises for legitimate guests and visitors. Their duty includes taking care of any hazards that can lead to an accident on their premises. Owners are also responsible for negligence by their employees, as long as the employee’s conduct took place within the scope of their job duties. To prove negligence against a business for a fall-related accident, here are some of the elements you will need to prove:
- You were an invitee (invited for business purposes) or licensee (there for a social / non-business purpose), meaning you have a valid reason to be on the premises.
- As an invitee or licensee, the owner had a duty of care to make sure you were safe on their property.
- The owner breached their duty of care by failing to repair or remove a hazardous condition, which constitutes negligence.
- This act of negligence caused you bodily harm and/or property damage, and therefore, you are entitled you to monetary compensation.
Keep in mind that this is a simplistic description of what it takes to prove liability a fall injury accident case. For more information on your right to sue for a sticky floor or ground accident, schedule a free case evaluation with the lawyers of Normandie.
Damages you may be Eligible to Receive
Your settlement for a sticky floor or ground accident is based on damages, which refer to the losses you have suffered as a result of the defendant’s breach of duty. Through a lawsuit, you may be able to receive:
- Medical expenses, including future medical costs
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages / lost earning potential
- Mental anguish
- Property damage
- Cost of legal representation
- Punitive damages
Not all sticky floor accident lawsuits are filed by the injured victim. In the most tragic situations, the victim passes away due to the severity of their injuries. Loved ones of the decedent may be entitled to wrongful death compensation in the form of:
- Funeral costs
- Medical expenses associated with the accident
- Loss of expected income and benefits
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Legal fees
As each injury case is different, it’s important to speak with one of our attorneys and verify which damages you are eligible to receive. We look forward to providing the guidance you need and fighting for the payment you’re entitled to.
Average Case Value for a Fall Injury Lawsuit
As previously stated, each sticky floor or ground fall injury case is different, with its own set of physical and emotional injuries. But we know for a fact that these are valuable cases, due to the high potential for multiple, serious injuries. The settlement values are especially high when the accident occurs at a commercial premise, like grocery stores, shopping malls, and restaurants. These lawsuits can bring in anywhere from $250,000 to $450,000 on average if there are long-term complications that affect various areas of the victim’s life. For the most serious injuries, you can expect to see case values of $1.5 million or more.
How long do I have to File a Lawsuit?
The time limit to file a fall accident lawsuit is two years from the date of your accident, or two years from the date you discover an injury from the accident. If you’re filing a wrongful death claim, the statute of limitations is two years from the date that your loved one passed away. Please note that the courts are extremely strict regarding the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit. If you miss the two-year window for your case, it will be very difficult to obtain monetary damages from the liable party. We can take immediate action on your claim and ensure that you are fairly compensated for your losses.
How long does it take for these Cases to Settle?
Settlement time can vary significantly for one these cases. Some of them will settle within the first few months of filing the injury claim, while others will take several years before the plaintiff receives their payment. Our attorneys have the skill and experience you need to settle your case as soon as possible. For minor injury claims, that can mean 30 days to a few months, while moderate injury cases could take 6 to 12 months. For the most serious claims, 12 to 18 months may be needed to secure adequate funds for your level of suffering. If negotiating with the store’s insurance company is not possible, we will have to prepare for a trial. In that case, we will need to rely on a jury’s verdict, which can take 2 years or more.
Free Second Opinion
With any personal injury case, the experience and skill of the attorney that you’re working with is critical to a successful outcome. Even minor mistakes and complications can add weeks or months to a case timeline, which can happen when your attorney is incompetent or doesn’t see your case as a priority. If you are unhappy with how your case is being handled by your current law firm, we may be able to assist you with a second opinion. Based on our advice during your consultation, you may decide that switching your lawyer is the best course of action for your case. On the other hand, if you believe that staying with your lawyer is the right choice for you, there is no charge for the consultation, so you have nothing to lose.
For a free case review with one of our attorneys, contact our law firm to schedule a second opinion.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation
Slipping or tripping on a floor can be fairly embarrassing when you’re out in public, and many people are reluctant to seek legal advice as a result. This can be a costly mistake no matter what type of injuries you have. Medical care, time missed from work, the emotional trauma from an accident – these costs will add up quickly, so it’s important to take action right away against the business or property owner.
If you need a lawyer that is experienced in slip and fall, trip and fall, and other fall-related injuries, please contact the attorneys of Normandie. Our law firm has many years of experience in personal injury cases, and we know what it takes to bring you the settlement you deserve. Something else you deserve is free legal representation if your accident was caused by another party’s negligence or misconduct. With our Zero fee guarantee, the only way we get paid is by winning your case. If we don’t recover your damages, you won’t be responsible for a single penny of our expenses.
If you’re ready to discuss your case with one of our attorneys, please schedule a consultation at your earliest convenience.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Floor & Decor Store Injury Attorney
Slip and Fall Recently Mopped/waxed Floors
Dance Floor Injury
