Did you suffer injuries in a slip and fall accident in Minnetonka? Did the slip and fall occur due to someone else’s negligent or wrongful behavior? If so, you could recover monetary compensation from a slip and fall injury claim. The money you recover from a successful claim could pay for your medical treatment, offset your lost income, and compensate you for the pain and suffering you experienced through no fault of your own.
The personal injury attorneys of Fields Injury Law want to help you stand up for your rights and demand the money you need from the person responsible for your injuries. We can review the specifics of your situation to determine all possible sources of compensation and establish a strong legal strategy on your behalf.
Keep reading to learn more about our firm and how we can help you, and contact us today to speak with a slip and fall accident lawyer in Minnetonka at no cost or obligation.
Why Choose Fields Injury Law?
When you choose the team at Fields Injury Law, you choose a firm that has stood up for injured accident victims in Minnesota for decades. We know what it takes to demand full and fair compensation for those we represent, and we’re ready to take action on your behalf right now.
Our attorneys have secured millions of dollars in benefit payments, insurance settlements, and trial verdicts for slip and fall victims in situations like yours.
We can put this hard-won experience to work for you by:
- Conducting an independent investigation into the circumstances of the slip and fall accident to identify all liable parties and sources of compensation
- Gathering supporting evidence like photos, video footage, injury reports, medical records, witness statements, and the clothes you were wearing when you fell
- Preparing a thorough slip and fall case to demonstrate the extent of the injuries and the financial losses you have suffered and will suffer due to the accident
- Negotiating with the at-fault property owner, their insurance provider, and other relevant parties to demand maximum insurance benefits and injury compensation on your behalf
- Handling important case documents, details, and deadlines so you don’t have to
- Offering personalized, attentive service as we pursue your slip and fall claim, allowing you to focus on your recovery
You can meet us in person at our office in Minnetonka. We can also discuss your case virtually or over the phone if you prefer. And because case reviews are free and come with no obligation, it will not cost you anything to learn more about your options for pursuing compensation.
Slip and Fall Accidents in Minnetonka
While slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere and at any time, some of the most common places they happen in Minnetonka include:
- Retail stores with unattended spills, overly-waxed floors, and cluttered aisles
- Restaurants and bars with spilled drinks on the floor and poor ambient lighting
- Healthcare facilities with slick floors, spilled fluids, and fast-moving workers
- Construction sites with open scaffolds, collapsing trenches, and poor supervision
- Arenas, theaters, and theme parks with uncleaned spills and unfamiliar spaces
- Apartment buildings with poor lighting, unsafe staircases, and missing handrails
- Older buildings with unusual step sizes and poorly maintained structures
- Swimming pools with slippery walkways, slick pool steps, and wet ladders
- Parking lots and garages with bad drainage, large potholes, and poor lighting
The following data from the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), the National Safety Council (NSC), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) illustrate just how common and hazardous slip and fall accidents are:
- In one recent year, 28.1 percent of older adults in Minnetonka reportedly suffered fall accidents, roughly the same rate as older adults nationwide.
- An estimated 37 percent of older adults who report fall accidents nationwide require medical treatment or at least one day of restricted activity to heal.
- Falls are the second-leading cause of preventable injury-related deaths in the U.S., with 42,114 Americans dying from falls in the home or the workplace in one recent year.
- The year before, more than 6.8 million Americans sought treatment in emergency rooms for fall-related injuries.
- Falls are the leading cause of death for working adults in many U.S. industries.
- In one year, 211,640 U.S. workers suffered occupational fall injuries that required days away from work, and 805 workers died from fall injuries.
- Construction workers’ risk for fatal occupational falls from height is more than seven times greater than the risk to workers in other industries.
- Slips and falls are a top factor in U.S. workers’ compensation claims and are also the leading cause of occupational injuries among workers who are 55 and older.
Causes and Consequences of Slip and Falls in Minnetonka
Though many slip and fall accidents have several contributing factors, the common denominators are loose materials, lack of traction, and uneven flooring underfoot.
Let’s examine some of the top causes of slips and falls in Minnetonka:
- Wet, flooded, rainy, or icy walkways
- Recently mopped or waxed floors
- Unattended spills on slick floors
- Uneven carpeting or other flooring materials
- Loose or irregular floorboards or tiles
- Stray cords and electrical wires
- Other clutter and debris blocking walkways
- Stairs that are too steep, narrow, or unstable
- Stairs with missing, loose, or broken handrails
- Parking lots with potholed or cracked pavement
- Garages and enclosed spaces with poor lighting
Some slip and falls are relatively minor, while others leave victims with life-changing or deadly injuries.
Common injuries in slip and fall accident cases include:
- Head and neck injuries
- Facial and dental injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Back and shoulder injuries
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
- Partial or total paralysis
- Abdominal and internal injuries
- Arm, elbow, wrist, and hand injuries
- Dislocated and broken bones
- Traumatic amputation or loss of limb
- Bruises, lacerations, and puncture injuries
- Soft tissue strains, sprains, and tears
- Leg, knee, ankle, and foot injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
How Much Is My Slip and Fall Injury Claim Worth?
Every slip and fall accident is different, so the value of your claim could vary considerably from others.
A knowledgeable attorney can review the following factors to determine how each could affect your settlement:
- The nature and severity of your slip and fall injuries
- How long it takes you to heal from your injuries
- The cost of any medical treatment you need for your injuries
- Whether your injuries will require medical attention in the future
- Whether you take time away from work to recover
- Whether you can return to the type of work you did in the past
- How your slip and fall injuries might affect your earning capacity
- Which party or parties contributed to the slip and fall
- Whether your behavior somehow contributed to the slip and fall
- The amounts and types of insurance coverage available to you
An experienced slip and fall attorney in Minnetonka can help you recover compensation for losses like:
- Hospital bills and medical costs you incur for your slip and fall injuries
- Incidental expenses like out-of-pocket costs for medical travel
- Reduced income from any time you miss at work while you heal
- Projected losses in your earning potential, if your injuries are permanent
- Subjective losses like your pain, suffering, and lost quality of life
Demanding Compensation From a Slip and Fall Insurance Claim
When you sustain injuries in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, you can usually file a claim with their insurance provider. Most property owners have coverage through homeowners’ insurance, renters’ insurance, or commercial property insurance.
Unfortunately, insurance companies are for-profit entities that make their profits by denying and minimizing claims. Insurance adjusters frequently cite confusing policy language or vague exclusionary provisions to avoid paying claimants and protect their employer’s bottom line.
At Fields Injury Law, our lawyers work hard to fight back against unfair insurer tactics and secure the full compensation our clients deserve. Contact us today to learn how we can defend your rights and maximize your slip and fall settlement in a free case review.
What to Do When You Slip and Fall in Minnetonka
If you suffered a slip and fall accident injury in Minnetonka, you can protect your well-being and get a jump start on your claim by:
- Seeking medical care to have your injuries diagnosed, treated, and documented
- Following your doctor’s care plan to improve your prognosis
- Gathering evidence like photos, incident reports, and eyewitness statements
- Keeping your medical bills, pay stubs, income statements, and other documentation relating to the accident and your injuries
- Refraining from sharing case details or photos online while your claim is pending
- Watching what you say to the insurance company and other parties before you have the chance to speak with a slip and fall lawyer
- Speaking with an experienced attorney as soon as you can
Minnetonka Slip and Fall Injury FAQs
Here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions about slip and fall accident injuries in Minnetonka:
Who is liable for a slip and fall accident in Minnetonka?
It depends. Minnetonka property owners have different obligations to different types of visitors, so your ability to hold a property owner liable will depend on your status as a visitor when the slip and fall occurred.
If you were on the property lawfully, you can hold the owner liable for your injuries if you slipped and fell because they failed to eliminate hazards or warn you of their presence.
If the slip and fall happened at work, the workers’ compensation system could cover your injuries.
A knowledgeable attorney can evaluate every aspect of your claim to identify all potentially liable parties.
What if I am partially at fault for the slip and fall accident?
If you bear some fault for the slip and fall that injured you, you have a right to demand compensation. However, Minnesota law also specifies that the percentage of fault you bear for the accident will reduce your compensation accordingly. And if you are more than 50 percent at fault for the slip and fall, the law prohibits you from seeking any compensation whatsoever.
How long do I have to file a slip and fall lawsuit in Minnetonka?
When you suffer a personal injury due to another party’s negligent or wrongful behavior in Minnetonka, state law gives you six years from the date when the injury occurred to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, each case is unique and there can be situations where the statute of limitations is shorter.
If you attempt to sue after the six-year deadline has passed, the court will likely dismiss your case, jeopardizing your ability to pursue compensation. The six-year deadline is important even if you never intend to sue because insurance companies make settlement offers based on what they expect might happen in court.
Contact a Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer in Minnetonka Today
Have questions about your Minnetonka slip and fall injury case? Then contact us at Fields Injury Law at (612) 206-3495 to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney in Minnesota. Consultations are free, so there is no risk in learning more about your options for pursuing justice and accountability.
