There are way too many variations of injuries that you can get from an event like a slip & fall accident to say what an “average settlement” will be from person to person.
Still, let’s take a look at some of the injuries that come from these falls, and what their medical costs and other losses over time might look like. To discuss your specific situation and the value of a possible claim, contact a OC slip and fall attorney directly.
Losses from Slip and Falls
Each slip and fall victim will have different losses, including:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical costs
- Lost income if you are out of work due to your injuries
- Physical and mental pain and suffering
If you have an injury that heals with treatment in a few months, your claim likely will not involve future losses. An injury that will have permanent effects can lead to future losses, which will increase your losses and the necessary settlement.
Further, an injury that causes permanent disabilities also comes with greater pain and suffering. This refers to both physical pain from the injury itself, treatment, and complications, as well as the mental suffering from not being able to live life as you once did.
Factors like future losses and intangible losses are complicated, and you need an experienced attorney calculating the value of your claim for you.
Slip & Fall Injuries and Their Average Medical Costs
Some common slip and fall injuries include:
- Fractures, including hip fractures
- Concussion and brain injury
- Back and spinal injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
All of these injuries need immediate medical treatment, including possible surgery and ongoing therapy. As you can imagine, the amount of money the injured party will pay in medical costs (treatment, rehab, doctor visits, etc.) can easily go into the hundreds of thousands of dollars over a long period of time.
One common and potentially long-standing condition that many patients get diagnosed with after a slip & fall is called CRPS, or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, it usually affects the arms or legs and is labeled either “acute” (short-term pain) or “chronic” (long-term pain lasting over six months).
For a condition like CRPS, The National Library of Medicine estimates thousands of dollars in medical costs annually, not including the price of prescriptions. These costs can vary from patient to patient and continue for many years. Your California personal injury lawyer will greatly assist you in determining what your settlement should be by calculating current as well as future medical costs.
Speak with a Slip and Fall Lawyer in California
If you have suffered a slip & fall in an establishment or on someone else’s property where the owners did not assert reasonable care in keeping the environment hazard-free, then they should be responsible for covering all your losses. It is in your best interest to acquire the services of a reputable California personal injury lawyer immediately after your accident.
