Damages That are Recoverable for a Slip and Fall Injury

By Greg Kohn
Partner

If you got hurt in a slip and fall or trip and fall accident that was someone else’s fault, you might be able to pursue money damages from the party who caused your fall. These accidents can cause severe injury and lead to the loss of your mobility. Some people suffer fatal injuries from slips and falls.

Your medical bills could be massive if you slipped and fell on someone else’s property. You cannot file a slip and fall case for an accident on your own property. A New Jersey slip and fall lawyer can talk to you about what kinds of damages are recoverable for a slip and fall injury and fight for you to get the compensation you deserve. 

Can You Recover Your Medical Expenses from a Slip and Fall Accident?

Yes, if someone else caused your accident through carelessness and the fall happened on someone else’s property, you can usually seek damages for the medical treatment you needed. Some examples of medical bills in these situations include:

  • Ambulance
  • Emergency room
  • Hospital
  • Doctors
  • Surgery
  • Physical therapy
  • Lab tests
  • Pain management

You might have additional expenses that we could include in your personal injury claim. Also, if you have ongoing medical issues from the slip and fall or if getting hurt worsened an existing health condition, we might be able to make those expenses a part of your claim.

What Happens if You Missed Work Without Pay After a Slip and Fall?

When you have a personal injury claim, lost wages can typically get recoverable. For example, if you could not work for six weeks while undergoing medical treatments and recuperating from a fall accident, the income you lost can get added to your case. Lost wages can include lost salary, wages, self-employment, and other forms of regular income.

Many people have to reduce their working hours or take a lower-paying position after a severe injury that leaves them with impairment. If you experienced decreased earning capacity because of your injuries, you can seek money damages for that financial loss. 

Can You Go After Other Types of Compensation After a Slip and Fall Accident?

The specific types of damages you can seek after an accident will depend on the facts of your situation. You might have non-economic losses, also called intangible damages, after a slip and fall. Here are a few examples of these items:

  • Pain and suffering. This loss is for the physical discomfort and emotional distress of the accident and your injuries. Merely paying one’s medical bills does not compensate them for the pain they experienced from getting hurt and undergoing medical procedures, like surgery and physical therapy. Emotional distress can include worrying about whether you will heal completely, lose your job because you need time to recuperate, and other concerns.
  • Loss of enjoyment of life. Slip and fall accidents are one of the leading causes of people losing the ability to walk without assistance. When a person has to rely on a walker, cane, or wheelchair to get around, they can miss out on doing things they used to enjoy.
  • Disfigurement. Slip and fall injuries can be disfiguring, particularly if the person falls face first and sustains significant scars from facial injuries. 

If you got hurt or a close relative died from a slip and fall accident, a New Jersey personal injury attorney can help you hold the negligent party accountable for your losses. Contact us today for a free consultation.

About the Author
Greg Kohn is a partner at Nagel Rice and specializes in complex civil litigation cases, including professional malpractice, personal injury, class actions, wrongful death, products liability, and commercial litigation.  He has extensive experience representing clients in both state and federal court. Greg has tried many jury trials to verdict and has recovered over $50 million in settlements and verdicts in all types of personal injury matters including automobile accidents, wrongful death cases, slip and falls, and other catastrophic injury cases. Greg also handles medical malpractice cases, involving misdiagnoses, wrongful birth, and delayed cancer diagnosis. If you have questions regarding this article, you can contact Greg here.