Slip and fall accidents are common causes of minor but painful injuries, such as a broken wrist or facial fractures. However, there are instances where a fall can be serious enough to cause death, leaving grieving family members to pick up the pieces after a fatal accident.
Who Can Be Liable for Wrongful Death After a Fall?
A person may die immediately after a slip and fall accident, or they may succumb to their injury due to their body’s inability to heal. Families may collect damages by filing a wrongful death lawsuit, but they will need to prove that someone breached their duty of care and that the breach directly led to the loved one’s death.
Many parties could be named in a lawsuit after a fatal fall, including:
- Property owners. Owners and operators of parks, grocery stores, retail environments, construction sites, and other spaces frequented by the public have a duty to ensure that no dangerous conditions exist on their properties.
- Landlords. Ice, water, and slippery staircases are major causes of deadly falls. If your loved one was living in an apartment, hotel, motel, or other rented property, you should consult with a premises liability lawyer as soon as possible. We can investigate whether your relative’s landlord failed to perform essential maintenance that could have prevented the fall.
- Nursing homes. Older people face a much higher risk of fatalities from falls at ground level, and long-term care and assisted living facilities must follow safety regulations to ensure the elderly are not placed at risk of harm.
- Hospitals. Patients at high risk for falls should be identified by wristbands and with proper notation in their charts. If a fall-risk patient is left alone for long periods or receives no answer to a nurse call button, the patient may attempt to stand on their own,and the facility may be liable if the attempt ends in a fall.
For a free legal consultation, call (615) 807 7900
While no amount of money can bring your loved one back, the legal team at GriffithLaw will do everything possible to discover why your relative’s death occurred and secure you a settlement that allows you to move on. Contact us today through our online form or give us a call at (615) 807-7900 to have us explain your next steps at no cost to you.
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