Workplace Slip and Fall Injuries

A slip and fall accident at work may seem like something that you can brush off. Unfortunately, statistics show that injuries caused by slip and fall accidents should always be taken seriously. These types of accidents cost millions of Americans lost time from work and money every year.

Your time is valuable, and so is your health and well-being. If you’ve been sidelined by a slip and fall accident at work, contact KRW Lawyers for a free case evaluation. Our knowledgeable attorneys will review your case and explain all the legal options that may be available to you.

What Defines A ‘Slip and Fall’ Accident?

The term “slip and fall” refers to a situation where an individual slips and falls down on someone else’s property, leading to an injury.

A slip, trip, or fall can be a direct result of unsafe or dangerous conditions such as torn carpeting, a crack in the pavement, poor lighting conditions, narrow or unsafe stairways, and even weather-related conditions such as ice or snow.

Individuals who are hurt in slip and fall accidents at work may be able to pursue payment through a workers’ compensation claim or a personal injury lawsuit. Because your legal options depend on your specific situation, it is important to speak with a knowledgeable Texas work injury attorney about your slip and fall case as soon as possible.

Am I Able to Sue My Employer for My Fall? 

This will depend on whether your employer has workers’ compensation insurance. Texas is one of the only states that allows employers to not carry any form of workers’ compensation insurance.

• If your employer does not carry workers’ comp insurance, you may be able to recover damages from a work-related slip and fall accident through a personal injury lawsuit.
• If your employer does carry workers’ comp, you will need to seek benefits from the workers’ compensation insurance policy.

When it comes to filing a lawsuit against your employer for a fall, this is a question best discussed with an experienced attorney like those at KRW Lawyers. These cases can be complicated, but we have the experience and the resources to fight for you.

What Compensation Might I Be Eligible For? 

In slip and fall personal injury cases involving employers without workers’ comp insurance, victims may demand payment for the following:

• Medical costs
• Future medical expenses
• Rehabilitation costs such as physical and occupational therapy
• Lost income
• Loss of future potential income
• Pain and suffering

If you are filing for workers’ compensation benefits, you will be seeking payment for your medical care as well as a percentage of your wages to be paid as you get treatment and work toward recovery.

A workplace injury attorney at KRW Lawyers can help you sort through the facts surrounding your slip and fall claim and determine what compensation you may be entitled to in order to get your life back on track.

How Long Do I Have to File a Slip and Fall Lawsuit?

In the state of Texas you have a two-year time limit to seek legal action following this type of accident. The clock starts the day that the slip and fall accident happens.

It is important to note that for workers’ comp claims in Texas, the deadlines are different. You must notify your employer of your injury within 30 days, and you must file your claim within one year of the date of injury.

While it may not be the first thing that you think about, picking up the phone and calling an experienced lawyer is one of the most important steps you can take following a workplace injury accident. While you are trying to recover from your injuries, the clock is still ticking. A knowledgeable workplace accident lawyer will want to begin working on your claim as soon as possible.

Tips for Protecting Your Rights After a Fall at Work

One of the most vital things a lawyer can do for you after a slip and fall accident is to help you protect your rights. After an accident, you are already in pain and may not immediately be thinking about your legal options. Add to that anxiety over your injury and bills, pressure from your employer, and calls about insurance ─ it is a lot to deal with.

Understand first and foremost that you have rights and follow these steps to protect them:

• Get medical attention. Immediately after a slip and fall accident at work, get the medical attention that you need. A slip and fall accident can cause bruising, bleeding, broken bones, soft tissue damage, spinal cord damage, or concussion. You need to get a physician to properly diagnose and begin to treat your injuries so you can start the healing process. This will also help document the extent and cause of your injuries.
• Report the accident. Make sure that you report that an accident has taken place. Whether the accident happened at work, another business, or someone’s property, you need to make sure there is a record of what happened. If you were working on someone else’s property, such as a fall at a jobsite, report the fall to the property manager and your employer.

Reporting the accident ensures it is documented from the beginning. It also helps because you are reporting the facts of the accident while they are still fresh in your head.

• Take photos. It also helps if you, a coworker, or a witness can take pictures. Get photos of the scene, whatever caused you to fall, and your injuries. The goal is to document the scene as best you can before it is cleaned up or fixed.
• Get names. If there are witnesses to your accident, make sure you get their names and contact information. That way they can be called later to help corroborate what happened.
• Save any evidence. If your fall was caused by a slippery substance on the floor, for example, save your shoes and any clothing that could have traces of the slippery substance on them.
• Contact an attorney. Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your slip and fall accident at work. Getting an attorney on your side from the beginning means you have help determining your next steps for seeking compensation. You will have a professional on your side to investigate the accident, calculate the cost of your injuries, and negotiate for full and fair compensation.

At KRW Lawyers, our trusted legal team can give you valuable insight and guidance through the entire legal process while making sure you aren’t taken advantage of. Our experienced attorneys will thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding your slip and fall and identify all possible sources of compensation.

Let us take some of the burdens off of your shoulders so that you can focus on what’s important, your recovery. Contact us now to schedule your free case consultation.

Common Causes of Falls at Work

There are numerous ways that a slip and fall accident can occur in the workplace, some of the most common causes of falls in the workplace include:

• Slippery flooring
• Damaged or uneven flooring
• Spills that have not been properly cleaned ─ liquids, grease, oil, etc.
• Weather hazards
• Loose rugs or mats
• Unmarked, unexpected stairs
• Poor lighting
• Loose cables
• Clutter on the floor
• Narrow or poorly lit stairs
• Lack of hand railing on stairs
• Potholes in parking lots
• Debris in walkways

It also depends on the type of environment that you are working in. The National Safety Council estimates that falls in the construction sector accounted for 24,700 injuries in one recent year.

The manufacturing, warehouse, and transportation industries also had high rates of fall accidents as well. It may surprise you to note, however, that there were 43,660 fall injuries in the education and health service sector, as well as 29,830 injuries in retail trade.

Whether it is a trailing cable tripping up an office worker or a construction worker falling through an unmarked hole in the floor, there is no limit to the number of ways a worker could be hurt in a fall on the job.

An estimated 9.2 million people visited emergency rooms for fall-related injuries in one recent year. That’s just the ER alone. Many more sought treatment through other providers.

If you have been hurt in a slip and fall accident at work, know that you are not alone. Our respected team of slip and fall lawyers are here to help you and your family during this stressful time.

In Summary

There are a lot of moving parts after a slip and fall accident in the workplace. It can feel like you are hopping from one crisis to the next all while struggling to recover from your injuries. The attorneys at KRW Lawyers understand the pain and anxiety you are going through, and we are here to take those pressures off you.

We pride ourselves on helping victims just like you demand the compensation they are entitled to after being hurt in slip and fall accidents. Workers across Texas choose our law firm to represent their best interests because our knowledgeable attorneys and staff treat them with the respect and compassion they deserve. We make sure that you feel like a part of our family and that you know your case is our top priority.

Our legal team communicates with you through every step of the legal process and keeps you up to date on all the progress that is being made. We are always available to talk when you call and answer any questions you may have.

While we manage all the details of pursuing the compensation you deserve, you can focus on your health and your family. Don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by the legal process. Let the dedicated attorneys at KRW Lawyers take on your workplace slip and fall accident claim.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a slip and fall accident on the job, call us or set up an appointment online. We offer a free case evaluation so that you can get the information you need in order to move forward. There is no charge to start work on your claim, and you only pay us if we recover money in your case.