Pursuing a slip-and-fall case can be overwhelming, especially when the path to recovery doesn’t include surgery. Many wonder if their claim holds value and what kind of settlements might be possible.
In this article, the Southfield slip and fall attorneys will explain what slip and fall settlements without surgery look like. Whether you’re struggling with minor injuries or facing long-term rehabilitation, understanding the nuances of these settlements is crucial in achieving the compensation you deserve.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a slip and fall accident, contact Lipton Law today at (248) 557-1688 to meet with one of our experienced Michigan premises liability attorneys.
What Is a Slip and Fall Accident?
A slip-and-fall accident happens when a person falls due to a dangerous condition on someone else’s property. This includes wet floors without proper signage, uneven sidewalks, loose or torn carpeting, or other conditions that present unexpected risks. Each year, slip and fall accidents account for over 8 million hospital emergency room visits, according to data from the National Floor Safety Institute.
It’s up to the property owner to know of any potential hazards and to fix them in a timely manner to keep their property safe. If the property owner doesn’t repair the problem or to warn others, visitors could slip and fall.
What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability is a type of personal injury claim where an injury was caused by an unsafe condition on someone’s property. Property owners are legally obligated to maintain a reasonably safe environment for visitors. Suppose they neglect this responsibility, and someone is injured. The injured party may have grounds for a claim to recover compensation.
In addition to slip and fall accidents, the Southfield personal injury attorneys represent the following premises liability cases:
- Amusement park accidents
- Camp Lejeune water contamination claims
- Concert injuries
- Dog bite injuries
- Exposure to toxins
- Fires
- Negligent security
- Swimming pool accidents
What Are Common Slip and Fall Injuries?
Slip and fall accident injuries can often have serious and life-altering consequences. Since slip and fall victims are usually caught off guard, they have little time to brace for impact, which can lead to catastrophic injuries to the head, neck, and spine. Suppose a person tries to catch themselves or avoid an accident. This can also lead to serious injuries like broken or fractured bones.
No matter how serious your slip and fall injury is, it’s important to meet with a Southfield slip and fall attorney to discuss your legal options. When slip and fall victims are injured due to another’s negligence, they should not be on the hook for their medical bills and other expenses related to their injuries. At Lipton Law, you can trust that your slip and fall injury attorney will work to recover compensation for your injuries, whether negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf or taking the premises liability claim to court.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a devastating result of slip and fall accidents. This sudden and uncontrollable descent can cause the head to forcefully impact the floor or hard surface. Even a minor fall can jolt the brain within the skull, causing a concussion or more severe brain damage.
The repercussions of traumatic brain injuries from slip and falls include long-term cognitive deficits and physical disabilities. These injuries typically require extensive medical treatments and long-term care, resulting in financial hardships due to medical bills and lost wages.
Back and Neck Pain
Slip and fall accidents often lead to mild to severe back and neck pain. These injuries can result in mild muscle strains to severe ailments like herniated discs, vertebral fractures, or even spinal cord damage.
The sudden twist or compression of the spine during a fall can lead to chronic pain and discomfort, significantly restricting mobility and daily activities. In severe cases, these accidents can cause partial or complete paralysis.
Fractures
Fractures are common slip and fall injuries due to the force exerted on bones during the fall, causing them to break or shatter. The wrists, hips, and ankles are particularly vulnerable, especially in the elderly, whose bones may be more fragile.
What Compensation Can I Get in a Michigan Slip and Fall Settlement?
Slip and fall settlement amounts will vary depending on the circumstances of your case. Factors like the extent of your injury, pre-existing medical conditions, and the long-term consequences of the injury can impact your slip and fall settlement amount.
Economic Damages
At Lipton Law, your slip and fall lawyer will seek compensation for the following economic damages:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Physical therapy
- Medical devices
- Rehabilitation costs
- Property damage
- Home-health care
Non-Economic Damages
In addition to economic damages, the attorneys at Lipton Law will also seek compensation for non-economic damages. Since these damages are considered intangible losses, they can be harder to recover. However, you can trust that your Southfield slip and fall attorney will do whatever it takes to ensure you receive fair compensation for non-economic damages. These damages include:
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disfigurement and scarring
Do I Need Surgery After a Slip and Fall?
Whether you need surgery after a slip and fall accident depends entirely on the nature and severity of your injuries. Some slip and fall injuries can heal over time with treatments like rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE), along with physical therapy and medication. However, other injuries may be more severe and require surgery to heal properly.
Following your slip and fall accident, it’s important to seek medical treatment even if you don’t think your injury is serious. Your healthcare provider will conduct a series of tests to understand the severity of the slip and fall injury and if it will require surgery. The most common slip and fall injuries that typically require surgery are:
- Complex bone fractures
- Torn ligaments or tendons
- Spinal cord injuries
- Hip fractures
- Severe shoulder injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
Even minor slip and fall injuries can result in medical bills and treatments in order to fully heal. This is why seeing a doctor following a slip and fall accident is important, especially if you want to file a lawsuit. The medical records documenting your injuries and the required treatments or surgical procedures can strengthen your premises liability claim.
Would I Get More Money If I Had Surgery?
Slip and fall settlements with surgery may not always result in a higher settlement amount. Slip and fall victims who are not responsible for their injuries can expect full compensation for damages, like lost wages and medical bills.
Since Michigan is a comparative negligence state, there is a possibility that the defense can prove the slip and fall victim is partly responsible for their injuries. The percentage that the victim is found to be at fault will affect their slip and fall settlement amount. For example, if the injured person is determined to be 20% at fault for their injuries, their slip and fall settlement will be reduced by 20%.
It’s also important to note that expensive medical bills do not equal high slip and fall settlements. Instead, the slip and fall settlement amount will largely be influenced by the amount of pain and suffering the victim experienced during and after the surgical procedure. So, when surgeries are particularly complicated or invasive, it could mean higher slip and fall settlements.
Sample Slip and Fall Settlement Without Surgery
Not all slip and fall accident injuries need surgery, but that doesn’t mean that you aren’t able to pursue legal action against the property manager or owner at fault. Say a person slips and falls in a grocery store because the manager failed to put up a caution sign warning about the wet floor.
If that person hits their head on a shelf, resulting in a mild concussion, their doctor may require that they take off work to heal from their injuries. While this head injury is less severe than a TBI with internal brain bleeding, it still requires medical testing, like CT scans and X-rays, and also has caused the person to miss work and lose wages.
The average slip and fall settlements recovered in cases where the victim didn’t require surgery can range from $10,000 in damages to $50,000 depending on other circumstances surrounding the accident and injuries.
Slip and fall settlements without surgery are just as important as those that require surgery because the injured person suffered because of another’s negligent actions. Whether your slip and fall injury needed surgery or not, the premises liability attorneys at Lipton Law will do whatever it takes to recover a fair settlement and ensure those responsible are held accountable.
How Long Do Slip and Fall Settlements Take?
A slip and fall settlement will be much quicker if both parties can settle outside court. If the premises liability claim goes to trial, it can take much longer to receive compensation for damages.
At Lipton Law, our slip and fall attorneys know how much compensation clients deserve for their injuries and will stop at nothing to recover that amount. You can trust that your legal team won’t back down from a fight and will take the case to trial if necessary. While it may take longer to receive compensation, victims are more likely to recover the maximum amount they deserve.
Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer for My Slip and Fall Case?
Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney from Lipton Law is in your best interest after a slip and fall. These claims can be especially challenging when the responsible party is represented by large corporate attorneys. They will do anything to avoid paying a settlement.
The legal team at Lipton Law is well-versed in personal injury law. We can establish liability, evaluate the extent of your claim, and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
Contact a Southfield, MI, Slip and Fall Attorney at Lipton Law
If you’ve been hurt following a slip and fall accident, choosing a law firm in Southfield, like Lipton Law, can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case.
With Lipton Law, you gain an advocate committed to your best interests and who will tirelessly work to ensure that your rights are protected every step of the way. Take the first step towards safeguarding your future and contact Lipton Law to schedule a free consultation by calling (248) 557-1688.