Various accidents can befall a person. Some of them can be relatively minor. However, others can impact you for many years or even the rest of your life.
The slip and fall accident is one of those. If you're lucky, this type of incident will not harm you, and you can get up and continue your life with no issues. If you happen to injure yourself, though, you might never be quite the same again.
Let's take a look at some of the ways your life can change after this seemingly innocuous event.
You May Need to Sue an Individual or Entity
If you slip and fall, and you hurt yourself, figuring out whether that was someone's fault is the first thing you'll need to do. Generally, if you fall in your own home, you can't bring a lawsuit against anyone. You'll have to pay for your medical bills yourself.
If you slip and fall when you are on someone else's property, you might be able to sue them to recover damages if you think they were negligent. The store slip and fall is the perfect example. Maybe you're in a Target or Walmart, and you slip on a wet floor if the management neglected to put up adequate signage.
That's an instance when you may be able to bring a lawsuit, but if you do, you'll need to figure it out sooner rather than later. In most states, there is a limitation statute. For example, in Pennsylvania, you have two years during which you can file.
What Happens When You Sue?
If you do hire a lawyer and go after a store or a private citizen because you slipped and fell on their property, you're going to have to dedicate a lot of time to the case. If you're working, you may have to spend all of your downtime while you're not on the job figuring out how best to proceed.
If you're not working because you're healing from your injuries, there will be more urgency to win your lawsuit. Maybe you can't get on disability if the fall did not occur when you were on the job. Because of that, you need to make sure you hire the right lawyer who you feel has the best chance of winning the case for you.
While you're focused on the lawsuit, you may need your other family members to pitch in more than they usually would. If you have kids, you'll have to explain to them that they need to do their homework, keep their rooms clean, and generally behave responsibly. You can tell them that a lot is on the line with this lawsuit, and that's what has to get a lot of your attention right now.
What About Your Injuries?
As for your physical condition, you might be in bad shape following a slip and fall incident. You might fracture a couple of disks in your back, sustain a traumatic brain injury, or break some bones.
Maybe you feel okay right after the fall, but in the days and weeks that pass, you start to realize how badly the incident hurt you. You might need to get some X-rays or an MRI. You may need further tests, and all of that will cost money.
Your insurance might be able to cover it, but if you have a high deductible plan, you'll still need to pay quite a bit out of pocket. That is why there's so much emphasis on winning your lawsuit.
You might have to wear a cast on a broken limb for some time after the accident. You may have to be in a wheelchair or walk with a cane. You also might have to retrofit your home with a shower seat or new railings to support yourself if you can't get around as well anymore.
The Years to Come
If you can win your lawsuit, that's going to help you out quite a bit, particularly if your injuries turn out to be long-lasting or permanent. In the years after the accident, if you won your case, you can live off that money once you pay your lawyer. They will probably take a big chunk of your winnings.
There's no doubt that what seems like a simple slip and fall can turn your life upside down. You'll have to try your best to pick up the pieces and move forward, but it may be a challenge.
