Have you been injured or harmed as a result of a slip or fall on public, commercial or private property that was caused by someone else’s negligence? Could the fall have been avoided if the person responsible for the location had taken action to prevent it? Did a building owner or manager of premises know or ought to have known about a hazard? If so, you may be eligible to make a public liability claim. Below is information on claiming for slip and fall injuries and how our slip and fall lawyers can help ensure you get the compensation you’re entitled to.
Compensation For Slip and Fall Injuries
Public liability compensation for slip and fall injuries can cover:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Pain and suffering and the loss of enjoyment of life
- The cost of the car and home modifications you require as a result of your injury
- The financial value of care provided by friends and family
- Loss of earnings if your ability to work is impacted by the accident
- Past and future damages if you unable to provide care to dependents
When it comes to public liability claims, statutory time limits apply to claims for slip and fall cases. A claim should be made no more than 3 years from the date the accident occurred in most cases. If you are out of time, still contact us as we may be able to argue that an extension of time ought to be granted.
Damages for public liability claims fall under one of two categories:
- General damages: Paid to compensate for the loss of quality of life resulting from your injuries, including pain and suffering, loss of amenities on the enjoyment of life and loss of expectation of life. They are awarded for loss past, present and future, and compensation is determined based on the injuries and effects of the injuries.
- Special damages: Compensation for precise, identifiable monetary losses. This includes economic loss, loss of earnings from the date of the accident to the date of the hearing or settlement, future loss of earning capacity, and loss of superannuation. Also included are out-of-pocket expenses and the cost of medical and hospital treatment.
How Can I Help My Claim?
You must keep a record of any losses you have incurred or will incur. Losses include time taken off work to recover, medical bills arising from the injury, and time others have spent caring for you during your recovery.
- Take photographs of your injury and the location where it occurred. Return to the site of the fall and take photos if possible.
- If you have not already, go to your GP and give them as detailed an account as possible of the fall and the symptoms you are experiencing.
- Keep a record of the report you made of your injury and any response from responsible parties.
- Record losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, and time off work.
- Write an account of what happened to you, and collect the contact information of any witnesses.
- Keep any medical records related to the injury, including appointment dates, reports, and scans. Record the names of any doctors you visited, what clinics you went to, and the dates you went there.
Please be aware: it is common practice for insurers to hire private investigators to investigate prior employment and compensation claims and to undertake video and photographic surveillance of you. Such footage may be harmful to your claim if it shows you performing activities you previously denied performing. It is therefore important, to be honest, and consistent in your claim. Caution is also paramount when using social media, and setting your profile to ‘private’ is not always enough to stop a private investigator or a court order.
Why Speak With A Slip And Fall Lawyer?
Public liability claims can be complex, and establishing that duty of care has been breached is essential. With our decades of experience, in-depth knowledge and a drive to achieve the very best outcome for our clients our slip and fall lawyers will ensure you are in the strongest position possible to get the compensation you deserve. Our team is highly skilled in investigation, negotiation and litigation and knows the strategies used by insurance companies and their lawyers to try and avoid paying your compensation.
By speaking with our slip and fall lawyers, you can be assured that you have accurate and complete legal information and advice. You will know where you stand in terms of what compensation you may be able to claim, the likelihood of a successful outcome and what the best course of action is to take.
All Public Liability claims that are made through our slip and fall lawyers are on a No Win, No Fee basis. This means you will not be liable to pay our costs unless your case is successful. If your case is not successful and you do not receive compensation, in the majority of cases you will not pay any legal costs.
Contact Carbone Lawyers Today
If you have been injured as a result of a slip or fall and would like to find out if you’re entitled to compensation, arrange a time to speak with one of our slip and fall lawyers today. Call 1800 369 888 or fill out our online enquiry form and we will arrange an appointment for you.
For over 30 years Carbone Lawyers has been delivering great outcomes for our clients. And, when it comes to slip and fall lawyers, we have one of the most experienced Personal Injury teams in Australia. We pride ourselves on providing passionate, personalised and cost-effective legal representation and have a strong track record of success built on our compassionate and relentless pursuit of justice.