Maison Law helps people that have experienced hip injuries in slip-and-fall accidents in California. You probably have a lot of questions in this situation, but you’re mostly focused on your injuries and how you can get better. To do that, you can file an injury claim, but it’s really about the compensation you can get through the claims process. Our team can make sure you have a strong claim. Contact us today for a free consultation.
What Compensation Do You Get After a Slip-and-Fall Accident in California?
In legal terms, a slip-and-fall accident resulting in a hip injury is classified as a personal injury claim. You have two primary options for seeking compensation: filing an insurance claim or filing a personal injury lawsuit. Both routes aim to recover “damages” from the party responsible for your injury, which usually includes:
- Medical expenses and ongoing care needs
- Lost wages or loss of earning potential if you can’t work anymore
- Repair/replacement costs for any damaged property, like your clothes, glasses, phone, etc.
- Costs relating to your pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Costs relating to your reduced quality of life
Can I Get Extra Compensation?
This depends heavily on the circumstances. While you can get the above damages when you file a claim, the actual amount you get depends on a lot of different factors, ranging from how liable the responsible party is to how well you present your case.
In terms of extra compensation for your hip injuries, there’s only one category of damages that’s considered “extra”: punitive damages. Punitive damages are rare in slip-and-fall claims, but they are available. Punitive damages are given on top of your other damages when the liable party is considered:
- Intentionally or recklessly negligent.
In reality, the standard of proof for punitive damages is much higher and is going to require extensive and almost unquestionable evidence of the store:
- Not responding to complaints or reports of hazards.
- Knowing beforehand that there was an issue and still not fixing it.
- Intentionally creating a hazardous situation, like a store not mopping a wet floor and not putting up signage to save time and money.
Obviously, being in a situation where you’re injured by someone’s negligence is frustrating. But if you have the opportunity to file a claim–or have reasonably clear evidence of the store’s intentional negligence–you need to make sure you have a strong claim to get the most out of the process.
What Hip Injuries Can Happen to You in a Slip-and-Fall Accident?
Obviously, your hips are very vulnerable to injuries when you slip and fall. What’s worse, it doesn’t matter where your slip and fall happens–you could be facing a variety of different injuries that leave you with mounting medical bills and other losses. Usually, though, hip injuries in a slip-and-fall accident include:
- Dislocations – This happens when the ball of your hip joint pops out of its socket. This happens if you land with your leg bent or twisted in an unusual way, and it’s very painful. Bad dislocations can make it impossible to move your leg.
- Broken bones – Like any slip-and-fall, you can break or fracture your hip. Specifically, it happens when the top of your thigh bone breaks near the hip joint.
- Cartilage tears – If you twist your hip during a fall, it can tear the cartilage around the hip joint. This can make your hip feel unstable, and you may experience pain, stiffness, or a popping sensation when moving.
- Bursitis – A fall can irritate small fluid sacs in your hip called bursae. This causes pain and swelling in the hip area. It can feel worse when you try to move or put pressure on the hip.
- Bruising – When you fall on your hip, you can get a bruise (contusion). The impact breaks tiny blood vessels, causing swelling and a purple or blue mark. It can hurt a lot when touched, but usually, the bruise heals over time.
No matter what hip injury results from your slip-and-fall accident, certain conditions can sometimes make these injuries more likely. You can help stay safe by being aware of warning signs and reporting hazards to staff. And while property owners or management is responsible for keeping the environment safe and fixing hazards quickly, this doesn’t always happen. When this leaves you injured, you can turn to our team for support.
Contact Maison Law After a Hip Injury in a California Slip-and-Fall Accident
You never want to get injured in a slip-and-fall accident, whether it involves your hip or any other part of your body. Unfortunately, though, a hip injury in one of these accidents can turn your life upside down. That’s when you can turn to Maison Law for legal support and guidance. We’ll investigate what happened and make sure you have what you need for a strong claim. If you’ve suffered a hip injury in a slip-and-fall accident in California, contact us today for a free consultation.
