Who Can Be Held Liable for a Slip and Fall Accident in Nashville?
A slip-and-fall accident can happen just about anywhere. Many slip-and-falls occur in grocery stores and supermarkets, on icy sidewalks and walkways, or in restaurants and bars. When a person slips and injures themselves as a result of the property owner’s negligence, they may be eligible to seek compensation from the owner for their damages—especially in cases involving a
catastrophic injury, such as traumatic brain injuries or severe spinal damage, which can have long-term consequences.
In slip-and-fall cases, the owner of the property where the accident occurred is generally liable for any injuries sustained on the premises. If someone is injured in a commercial property, such as a supermarket, the store owner may be responsible for the accident. On residential properties, homeowners and renters can be held liable for slips and falls if they fail to shovel their walkways or fix any hazardous conditions.
Landlords are generally not liable for any injuries sustained on their properties and cannot be sued for a slip-and-fall unless they knew about any unsafe conditions on the premises that could lead to an accident without warning the renter beforehand.
What Causes Slip-and-Fall Accidents in Nashville, Tennessee?
When a slip-and-fall accident occurs because of hazardous conditions that a property owner failed to address, victims will have the opportunity to pursue a case. However, if you injure yourself because you were being careless, you may not have a case. Some scenarios that commonly lead to slip-and-fall accidents in Nashville include:
- Wet or slippery floors
- Uneven or loose floors
- Poorly maintained stairs without handrails
- Dimly lit hallways or parking lots
- Potholes or cracks in sidewalks
- Icy and snowy walkways
All of these hazards could potentially lead to serious injuries. Property owners have the duty of care to provide safe premises for their visitors. For example, a homeowner who fails to shovel their sidewalk within a reasonable amount of time can be held liable if somebody slips and injures themselves outside of their home. Similarly, a grocery shopper who slips on a spill in the store without a wet floor sign present may be able to sue the store owner.
By consulting with an experienced attorney, you will be able to determine whether or not you have a valid slip-and-fall lawsuit on your hands. Not all accidents are necessarily eligible for a personal injury or premises liability lawsuit. Our team at Glenn Injury is available to assess your case and help establish liability for your accident.
Where Do Most Slip and Falls Happen?
As we have mentioned, many slip and fall accidents occur in a store and on icy walkways. Slip and fall accidents can happen just about anywhere and lead to serious injuries, even in seemingly minor circumstances. Slip and fall accidents commonly take place in areas such as:
- Grocery stores
- Restaurants
- Bars
- Department and retail stores
- A friend or neighbor’s home
- Sidewalks
- Parking lots
- Hotels
- Office buildings
All of these locations may have wet floors at some point, whether due to spills, slippery entryways, recently mopped or waxed floors, and more. Parking lots and garages can be hazardous when poor lighting prevents you from noticing potholes and uneven pavement or ice and snow on the ground. When a property owner either fails to address the issue in a timely manner or neglects to warn a visitor about a hazard and it results in an injury, they may be held liable for the accident.
Working with an experienced personal injury attorney like Craig Glenn can help you identify a responsible party and hold them accountable for your injuries. When another party’s negligence causes a slip-and-fall accident and results in injury, Glenn Injury Law is the firm you can trust to recover a fair settlement.
Common Injuries in a Slip and Fall Accident
While a slip and fall may seem like a relatively harmless accident to some, it can easily lead to serious injuries. Whether you have slipped on ice or a spill in a supermarket, some injuries that victims often suffer in a slip and fall accident include:
- Broken or fractured bones: When trying to catch yourself from a fall, you may extend your arms and end up breaking your wrists, hands, or fingers. Slip and fall accidents can also commonly result in hip fractures among older individuals. If the impact from the accident is serious enough, victims may even suffer from head injuries or skull fractures.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): If a victim hits their head after slipping and falling, they could suffer head injuries and traumatic brain injuries. The impact of hitting your head on the ground or a nearby object can cause concussions, skull fractures, or brain hemorrhages that cause long-term complications.
- Sprains: After a slip and fall accident, many individuals experience wrist or ankle sprains from twisting during the fall. Victims may also suffer knee injuries, neck and back injuries, muscle tears, tendon strains, and more.
- Spinal cord injuries: An injury to the spinal cord can have life-changing consequences for victims of slip and fall injuries in Nashville. Examples of common spinal cord injuries include herniated discs, pinched nerves, chronic pain, and in serious cases, partial or total paralysis.
- Dislocations: Victims of slip and fall accidents in Nashville often dislocate shoulders, hips, and knee caps either when bracing for the fall or from the impact of the fall.
- Cuts: When a slip and fall victim falls onto a piece of sharp furniture, particularly one made of glass, they can suffer from deep lacerations or wounds that cause bleeding and scarring.
In severe cases, a slip and fall accident can even result in a fatality. Serious trauma to the head can potentially lead to complications and ultimately death. While a slip-and-fall accident may seem like one of the less harmful personal injury cases, they are certainly no laughing matter. Even a minor injury can have serious consequences.
If you have been injured in a Nashville slip-and-fall accident, trust the team at Glenn Injury Law to stand by your side and help you claim the compensation you deserve. Our team has decades of experience successfully representing injured victims in Nashville personal injury cases. With Glenn Injury Law by your side, you can rest assured knowing that your slip and fall case is in good hands.
Determining Liability in a Nashville Slip and Fall Case
When determining liability in a Nashville slip and fall case, there are a number of different factors to consider, including where the accident occurred, who owns the property, and how the accident happened. Working with an experienced slip and fall accident attorney like Craig Glenn will allow you to hold negligent property owners accountable for their actions and recover fair compensation for your injuries—or, in the most tragic cases, pursue a
wrongful death claim if the fall results in a fatality.
Whether at a store or at someone’s home, the property owner is generally responsible for any injuries that occur on their premises if they fail to address any hazardous or dangerous conditions that lead to a slip and fall. However, property owners are not the only ones who may be held liable in Nashville. Other examples of parties that may share responsibility in a Nashville slip and fall claim include:
- Landlords: As we mentioned earlier, landlords are often not found liable for injuries that occur on their properties. For example, if a tenant made a request to fix dangerous conditions in the home, such as a faulty staircase or a broken handrail, and the landlord or apartment owner neglected to address their concerns, they may share liability for any injuries sustained by their tenants.
- Business owners: When a business rents a property, it generally becomes their responsibility to provide a safe and hazard-free environment for their tenants or visitors. For instance, if a restaurant rents out a space in a shopping center and a customer is injured by slipping and falling on a spill, the restaurant will typically be held responsible rather than the property owner.
- Government entities: When a slip and fall accident occurs on government property, such as a city, state, or county school or building, either the City of Nashville, Davidson County, or the state of Tennessee may be held liable. A slip and fall may also occur on public property like public parks, libraries, or courthouse buildings.
- Construction companies: Many hazards may be left unattended at a construction site, prompting unexpected slips and falls by those passing. A pedestrian on the sidewalk may trip over loose construction debris at a site, in which case the construction company may share liability for any injuries.
More often than not, the property owner will share accountability during slip and fall accidents. Whether at a commercial or residential property, owners have the duty of care to provide a safe area for their guests without hazards. If a property owner, landlord, business owner, or government entity allows visitors or pedestrians to walk on their premises in unsafe conditions without addressing or fixing any known issues, they can be held liable when their negligence leads to an injury.
Glenn Injury Law fights hard for victims in Nashville who have been injured as a result of a slip and fall accident. Our team handles all kinds of personal injury claims, including:
We can help when a property owner’s negligence leads to injury. For more information about how our team can leverage our years of experience and expertise in Nashville personal injury claims to secure you a favorable outcome, call us today and schedule a free consultation.
How Can an Attorney Help in Your Nashville Slip and Fall Case?
An experienced Nashville personal injury attorney can make a world of difference in your slip and fall claim. At Glenn Injury Law, we take great pride in seeking justice for our clients. It’s not just about reaching a quick settlement; it’s about truly making a positive difference in our client’s lives. After you have been injured in a Nashville slip and fall accident, an attorney can help by:
- Investigating the accident: Our team will work diligently to review your case, establishing the cause of the accident and determining who is responsible for your injuries. If a property owner was negligent in leading to your accident, our team will make sure that they are held accountable for their carelessness.
- Gathering evidence: While investigating your accident, we will make sure to collect important pieces of information, including police reports, surveillance footage, and witness statements that help strengthen your case.
- Communicating with insurance companies: When you are recovering from an injury, negotiating with an insurance company is likely one of the last things that you want to do. Criag Glenn and the personal injury team at Glenn Injury Law have a wealth of experience communicating with insurance companies on our client’s behalf. We are familiar with the tactics that they use and we know just how to speak to them. Let us take the stress of dealing with the insurance companies off of your plate.
A Nashville personal injury attorney can assist in many different ways. Our team works closely with our clients to understand both their unique needs and challenges. When you work with Glenn Injury Law, you receive personalized attention and care that many of the bigger law firms are simply unable to provide. You will also always have the ability to speak directly with
lead attorney Craig Glenn, who will keep you updated and informed every step of the way.
Contact Glenn Injury Law if You’ve Been Injured in a Slip and Fall Accident
If you have been injured in a Nashville slip-and-fall accident, contact the team at Glenn Injury Law today for a free consultation. Our firm has been helping clients in Nashville recover compensation for their personal injuries for over a decade. We take great pride in helping injured victims and their families recover from life-changing accidents. If you have lost a family member in a slip-and-fall or other personal injury case, our team is also available to help you pursue a
wrongful death claim.
Whether you are interested in learning more information or are prepared to file a personal injury lawsuit, trust the team at Glenn Injury Law to offer winning and compassionate legal support at all stages. Craig Glenn and the team at Glenn Injury Law are trusted advocates in Nashville personal injury cases.
Call us today and see why injured victims in Nashville have trusted us to handle their slip and fall cases with confidence for years.
