Slip and Fall vs. Trip and Fall Injuries: What’s the Difference?

A trip and fall is similar to a slip and fall. In a slip and fall, a person slips on a spill or other such hazard. A trip and fall occurs when someone trips over an item in their path. In Georgia, someone who sustains injuries in either type of incident could be eligible for financial compensation if the accident occurred on someone else’s property.

Perhaps you were hurt in a Georgia trip and fall because a property owner was careless. If so, you could file a claim seeking compensation for medical bills and related losses.

Our experienced and knowledgeable trip and fall accident lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve and need to get back to your life. Contact us online or call Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. at (770) 205-8827 for a free consultation. We work on contingency, so you pay nothing until we settle or win for you.

Common Trip and Fall Injuries

Because trip and falls and slip and falls are similar, the injuries they may cause also tend to be similar. For example, the following are common injuries that may result from either a trip and fall or slip and fall:

• Head injuries
• Brain injuries
• Back and spinal cord injuries
• Wrist injuries
• Knee injuries
• Shoulder injuries
• Broken bones
• Ankle sprains

These types of injuries may occur when someone trips or slips and falls onto their back or head. In a slip and fall, a person may be more likely to fall backward. In a trip and fall, a person may fall forward, instead. This motion can influence their injuries.

Common Hand, Wrist, and Arm Injuries From Falls

When someone falls forward while tripping, they may impulsively thrust their arms forward to break their fall. Unfortunately, this action often results in injuries to the hands, wrists, and arms. Although these types of injuries can also occur in a slip and fall, they may be more common in trip and falls. Such injuries can prevent a person from performing many types of work-related tasks as well as activities of daily living. Even a job that isn’t physically demanding requires the use of the worker’s hands.

What You Need to Know About Slip, Trip, and Fall Claims

Trip and falls can cause significant harm. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 800,000 Americans are hospitalized for falling accident injuries annually.

Your injuries could require costly medical treatment. They might also leave you unable to work during your recovery. In addition, they may cause intangible struggles, like pain and suffering.

Proving Negligence

You can file a claim seeking compensation for such losses if you can show the slip or trip and fall resulting from the property owner’s carelessness. For example, maybe you’re shopping at the grocery store when you trip over an item that fell to the floor.

The store’s owners may be liable in this scenario. They’re liable if, by the time the trip and fall occurred, someone should have spotted the hazard and addressed it but failed to do so.

Factors Affecting Trip and Fall Settlements in Georgia

Various factors can influence how much compensation you may be entitled to after a trip and fall, including:

• The severity of your injuries
• The cost of your medical treatment
• Whether you’ll need ongoing medical treatment
• Whether your injuries have resulted in lost wages
• Whether your injuries will prevent you from working indefinitely
• The extent of your pain and suffering

The insurance company may not immediately offer an appropriate settlement. Ways to improve your negotiating power include:

• Submitting thorough medical documentation with your claim
• Gathering thorough evidence to prove the trip and fall resulted from a property owner’s negligence
• Submitting pay stubs, letters from your employer, and other documentation of your lost wages
• Keeping a pain journal in which you describe the way your injuries affect your daily life

It’s also essential to avoid making mistakes that can harm your case. You shouldn’t openly discuss your case with anyone aside from those directly involved, such as your lawyer or your doctors. In addition, stay off social media. Posting anything that suggests your injuries aren’t as serious as you say could negatively affect a final settlement.

The Deadline for Filing a Trip and Fall Lawsuit in Georgia

You may have to file a lawsuit to seek compensation if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement. Don’t delay in taking legal action. In Georgia, you have two years from the date of the trip and fall to file a lawsuit. Miss the deadline, and you won’t be able to seek compensation through the courts.

Do You Need a Lawyer?

The process of seeking the compensation you’re owed after a trip and fall can involve many steps. They include:

• Investigating to gather evidence of liability
• Coordinating with doctors
• Completing and submitting claim paperwork
• Negotiating with insurance adjusters

You don’t have to handle these tasks yourself. When you hire a premises liability lawyer, you stand a greater chance of getting the compensation you deserve for your injuries. You can take a look at our personal injury settlement results and read testimonials of people who have been through the same situations as you.

Contact a Georgia Trip and Fall Lawyer Today

At Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C., a Georgia personal injury attorney can handle all your case details while you focus on recovering from your injuries. Get started today by contacting us online or calling our dedicated legal team at (770) 205-8827 for a free case review.

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