Invaluable Information for People Injured in an Iowa Slip and Fall Accident

Falls are the second leading cause of injury-related deaths in Iowa and a significant cause of non-fatal injuries, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. If you have been hurt because of a property owner’s negligence, then you may be able to recover damages for your injuries, but those damages won’t come tomorrow. Before you can recover damages you need to know what kind of compensation you may be able to recover and how to protect your rights.

The Iowa slip and fall lawyers of Hupy and Abraham have been helping injury victims get fair recoveries since 1969. Insurance companies know us and they know that we thoroughly investigate every case and zealously advocate for our clients’ fair and just recoveries.

If you would like to schedule a free consultation at one of our conveniently located Iowa offices in Cedar RapidsDes Moines, or Davenport, then please call us today at 1-800-800-5678.

Types of Damages You Can Recover in an Iowa Slip and Fall Case

If you’ve been hurt in an Iowa slip and fall accident on someone else’s property and your case is successful, then you may be able to recover for your past, current, and future:

  • Medical costs. This includes all of your health care costs such as hospital stays, surgeries, doctors’ appointments, medications, assistive medical devices, and rehabilitation therapies.
  • Lost income. Any money or benefits that you are unable to earn because of your injury may be compensable.
  • Physical pain and emotional suffering. Your physical pain and emotional suffering may be difficult to value, but an experienced attorney can help you do so and get the recovery that you deserve.
  • Other costs. Any other out-of-pocket costs that you’ve incurred as a direct result of your slip and fall injury may be recovered in a settlement or court verdict.

However, before you can recover these damages, you will need to prove why your injury occurred and what injury you suffered. Then, you will have to convince the insurance company to settle with you or the court to find in your favor.

How Many Fall Injuries Occur

Sometimes, a fall is just an accident; however, other times a fall occurs because of someone else’s negligence. You may be able to recover damages for your fall injury if…

  • There was a property design defect that led to your injury. A property that is not designed to be reasonably safe or that does not meet the local building code requirements could cause an injury.
  • There was a property maintenance flaw that led to your injury. The failure to maintain the property safely and in compliance with local building code requirements could also cause an injury.
  • You slipped on snow or ice. While not every snow and ice fall is the fault of the property owner, there are some situations when you may be able to recover damages for your injuries. You may have a case, for example, if the storm was over for a reasonable amount of time prior to your injury or if the property owner’s actions made the snow and ice more dangerous.

These kinds of injuries can occur on any type of property, such as:

  • Supermarkets and other stores. Wet or slippery falls and trip hazards can make grocery stores and other retail stores common locations for fall accidents.
  • Restaurants. The hustle and bustle of restaurants, torn carpets, slippery floors, and other factors can lead to dangerous falls.
  • Hotels. A serious fall can occur in any of a hotel’s grounds including, but not limited to the pool, exercise room, lobby, stairwell, elevator, hallway, or private room.
  • Gyms. The failure to maintain clean, safe, and uncluttered areas can cause a trip or slip and fall at a gym.
  • Sidewalks. Uneven surfaces or icy conditions can cause significant fall injuries on sidewalks that abut residential and commercial properties.
  • Playgrounds. Poor design or maintenance can cause these play areas to be significant fall risks for children.
  • Amusement parks. All areas of the park including the rides, walkways, eating establishments, and restrooms should be reasonably designed and maintained to prevent fall injuries.
  • Hospitals. Slippery floors and cluttered hallways can create serious fall risks for patients and visitors.
  • Elevators and escalators. Any malfunctioning elevator or escalator—on any type of property—can cause a serious trip and fall risk.

Regardless of where a fall occurs, it can result in many different types of injuries.

Types of Fall Injuries

Your fall injury is unique, but depending on your physical symptoms you should discuss the following potential injuries with your doctor:

  • Brain and head injuries. A traumatic brain injury, skull fracture, or other injury can occur if you hit your head on the ground or another object during a fall or if an object penetrates your head when you fall.
  • Spinal cord injuries. A spinal cord injury may leave you paralyzed, with loss of sensation, or with another serious injury. Many spinal cord injuries are irreversible. The specific type of injury you suffer depends on the part of the spinal cord that was hurt in your fall.
  • Broken bones. Any bone can break in a fall. Particularly vulnerable in a trip or fall are hip bones, tailbones, arms, wrists, legs, and ankles. Broken bone recoveries can be long, painful, and expensive.
  • Dislocated shoulder. A doctor may be able to get your shoulder back in to place; however, your recovery depends on whether any nerves or ligaments were injured. You may require rest, immobilization of the shoulder, and physical therapy to recover.
  • Eye injuries. Falls are the most common cause of eye injury accidents. An eye injury can result in permanent blindness, other vision problems, and pain.
  • Facial and dental injuries. Sometimes it is the face that hits the ground hard. In these types of falls, serious injuries such as a broken jawbone, a broken nose, broken teeth, or other injuries may occur.
  • Death. Death is a risk for everyone who falls—but most especially for the elderly. Many of the above injuries can result in death, although death does not always occur at the scene of the fall. Sometimes it occurs later because of injury complications.

Once your injury is identified, then you should begin working on your physical and legal recoveries.

How Slip and Fall Cases Work

It is important to understand how a case works and important tips for protecting your recovery so that you can get the damages that you deserve. For example, you should know:

You should also know more about the benefits of working with an experienced slip and fall lawyer. An attorney can help you understand how all the factors described above apply to your specific case and make sure that all of your rights are protected.

We Will Fight for Your Fair and Fast Financial Recovery While You Fight for Your Physical Recovery

If you would like a confidential and free consultation with an experienced lawyer, all that you have to do is call us directly at 800-800-5678. We will provide you with an honest and accurate assessment of your potential slip and fall case and work hard to get you the recovery that you deserve.