Minneapolis
Slip and Fall Lawyer
Table of Contents
Minneapolis property owners owe guests a duty to maintain safe premises that are free of hazards. If you fall on someone’s property and suffer injuries as a result, you may be entitled to compensation. A Minneapolis slip and fall lawyer can help you recover the damages you are due.
In 2019, slips and falls resulted in 131,141 emergency department visits across Minnesota, with 27,614 in Hennepin County alone. Many of these cases could have been prevented if premises owners had taken reasonable preventive precautions. The personal injury lawyers at Milavetz Law hold careless premises owners accountable.
Experience You Can Trust
Since our establishment in 1963, the personal injury legal team at Milavetz Law has given everyday people a voice when they have been injured by someone else’s careless conduct. Our law firm consistently provides compassionate advocacy and aggressive representation that gets results:
- $1.25 million for a motorcycle rider struck by a truck hauling a boat
- $500,000 in a wrongful death case involving a drowning
- $2.5 million lump sum in a wrongful death case, plus a $15.5 million structured settlement for the youngest heir
Feedback from our clients includes testimonials such as the following:
“I hired Barbara Nevin at Milavetz Gallop & Milavetz and was very impressed with how knowledgeable, professional, and caring she was. The most important thing to me that other lawyers in my past failed at was how she communicated and was on top of things. She would always call me or answer when I called. I would definitely use her again if needed.” —Frank Antonicelli
“Walter Hodynsky is very detailed, smart, and goes above and beyond what is needed to ensure his client is happy. I recommend him 100%. He has been a great listening ear when going through a hard time, providing referrals that are helpful. He is just absolutely the best!!” —Linda Valentine
What causes slip-and-fall accidents in Minnesota?
Slips and falls can happen to anyone at any age in nearly any environment, but young children, elderly people, and workers face the highest risks of slips and falls.
Slips and Falls in Minneapolis Stores and Office Buildings
Public buildings present a variety of hazardous conditions that could precipitate a fall, including the following:
- Spills
- Objects or debris on the floor
- Wet restroom floors
- Hazardous entrances and exits
- Carpet with snags or curled edges
Parking Lots and Sidewalks
Slips and falls may occur in outdoor areas at stores, shopping centers, office buildings, or on public sidewalks. The following hazards may cause slips and falls outdoors:
- Potholes in parking lots
- Damaged sidewalks
- Rocks or debris in walking areas
- Uneven pavement
- Inadequate lighting
- Dips and raised areas
Slips and Falls During Winter
Winter weather safety is the responsibility of businesses, the city of Minneapolis, and homeowners. Without the diligence of premises owners, slippery conditions caused by snow and ice can cause falls during the initial precipitation event and become even more hazardous if the area remains wet and refreezes.
Slips and Falls in the Workplace
In 2020, slips, trips, and falls were the second leading cause of workplace fatalities in Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Department of Labor. Falls at work can happen in any profession, but they are especially common in the construction industry. Common causes of falls in the workplace include the following:
- Power cords placed across walkways
- Defective ladders
- Lack of safety equipment when working in high areas such as roofs and scaffolding
- Slippery surfaces
- Inadequate training in safety procedures
Falls from heights are especially common in the construction industry, and these falls tend to cause the most serious injuries.
What injuries are commonly associated with slip and fall accidents in Minneapolis?
Slips and falls can lead to catastrophic injuries with life-altering consequences. It is important to seek medical treatment immediately following any serious fall, as injuries are not always immediately apparent. Delaying medical treatment could increase the long-term impact of your injuries.
Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury can range from a mild concussion to severe brain damage. This type of injury may occur after falling from a high area, but studies have shown that even falls at ground level can cause traumatic brain injuries. The effects of traumatic brain injuries may be temporary or permanent and include the following:
- Personality changes
- Cognitive impairments
- Loss of sense of smell
- Vision impairments
- Loss of motor or bodily functions
- Mood disorders
- Headaches
Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries are common in the elderly and in cases involving falls from heights. These injuries can result in the following conditions, which may be permanent:
- Paraplegia
- Quadriplegia
- Numbness
- Loss of sensation
- Chronic pain
- Motor skills impairment
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
Bone Fractures
Hip and femur fractures are the most common significant fall-related injury suffered by adults aged 65 and older, according to UpToDate. Hip fractures can be devastating in the elderly and often result in recurrence and the beginning of a loss of independence.
Falls from heights, which often occur in the workplace, may result in multiple bone fractures from one fall. In severe cases, bone fractures can lead to serious complications including amputations, long-term chronic pain, and permanent disability.
What should I do after a slip and fall accident?
If you have fallen, the following steps may protect you from further physical damage while also protecting your legal case:
- Seek medical attention at one of Minneapolis’ nearby health care facilities.
- Look closely at the scene and try to identify the cause of your fall.
- Take photos of the area where you fell.
- Collect names and contact information of eyewitnesses.
- Follow your doctor’s recommended treatment protocols.
- Contact a premises liability lawyer as soon as possible.
Who is liable for my fall injuries?
Establishing liability for a slip or fall requires that you prove someone’s negligence caused the fall. This is most often the owner of the premises, but someone else who created the hazard may also be responsible, such as:
- An independent contractor who created a hazardous condition
- The manufacturer of a defective product
To establish negligence, you must be able to show that the responsible party breached a duty of care and caused you to fall. You must also prove that your injuries were caused by the fall.
What compensation can I recover for my fall-related injuries?
You may be able to recover significant damages if your injuries are severe and your ability to earn an income has become impaired as a result.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the financial losses you have suffered as a result of your injuries. These damages include your medical expenses and lost wages. Medical expenses include the total cost of your care, including the following:
- Doctor bills
- Hospital bills
- Assistive devices
- Rehabilitation
- Therapy
- Home health care
- Nursing services
- Personal care services
Lost wages include wages you have been unable to earn since your injury occurred and the wages you will be unable to earn in the future. Lost wages also include the value of homemaker services, child care, and other domestic services you are no longer able to provide.
Non-Economic Damages
When your slip and fall injuries are severe, you may face a long period or lifetime of chronic pain, therapy, or disability. You may be unable to return to your normal life activities. These losses are known as non-economic damages and may include the following:
- Pain
- Suffering
- Loss of bodily functions
- Disfigurement
- Loss of society
- Loss of consortium
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages may be awarded by a jury when clear and convincing evidence shows that your fall occurred because the defendant behaved with deliberate indifference to your rights or safety. Punitive damages are not awarded in all cases.
Compensation for Slips and Falls in the Workplace
Workers’ compensation in Minneapolis provides two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to the state maximum, in weekly payments. You also receive free medical care for your related injuries and reimbursement for travel to medical treatment.
Workers’ compensation operates on a no-fault system, which means you can receive benefits without having to prove your employer was negligent. However, you are not entitled to file a lawsuit against an employer who is covered by workers’ compensation.
In some cases, our law firm has been able to identify third parties who can be sued for your work-related injuries.
What is the cost of a Minneapolis slip and fall attorney?
Our law firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing upfront. You will generally owe us nothing until after we recover compensation for you. At that time, we will collect a percentage of your compensation. This percentage will be disclosed to you after we provide your free case review.
When should I contact a Minneapolis slip and fall attorney?
The state of Minnesota limits the time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. This time frame varies based on the details of your case. If your case is not filed before the statute of limitations expires, you can forever lose your right to recover the compensation to which you are entitled.
It is important to contact a Minneapolis personal injury attorney as soon as possible after you are injured. When you contact Milavetz Injury Law, we will determine how the statute of limitations applies to your case and ensure your case is filed on time.
How can the slip-and-fall attorneys at Milavetz Law help?
When you retain a premises liability attorney at Milavetz Law, we will draw upon the skills and experience of our entire legal team to accomplish the following on your behalf:
- Establish liability for your fall
- Gather evidence
- Interview eyewitnesses
- Retrieve your medical records
- Consult with expert medical witnesses
- Calculate your case value
We consult with financial planners, economists, leading doctors, and life care planners to ensure we have a full understanding of your long-term prognosis and the true cost of your injuries. As your case progresses, you can count on us to keep you updated on the status of your case and promptly respond to your questions.
Time is limited. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
