Slip and Fall Lawyer Penn Hills

If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident in Penn Hills, you deserve the legal representation you need to help you navigate the complexities of personal injury claims. At Porta Clark & Ward, our dedicated team of attorneys know in slip and fall cases, ensuring that your rights are protected and you receive the compensation you deserve. With an understanding of Pennsylvania’s laws, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Call us today at (412) 912-2381 for a free consultation and take the first step toward justice.

What Compensation Can You Expect From a Slip and Fall Lawsuit in Penn Hills?

Slip and fall accidents can happen unexpectedly, often leaving victims with serious injuries and significant medical bills. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident in Penn Hills, understanding the potential compensation you may be entitled to can help you better navigate your recovery process.

In many cases, those responsible for the conditions that caused the fall should be held accountable for their actions, whether it’s a property owner, business, or a municipality. But what damages can you recover from a slip and fall lawsuit?

Medical Expenses

The first and most obvious form of compensation you may be able to recover from a slip and fall lawsuit is medical expenses. These are the costs associated with treating your injuries, including:

• Emergency room visits

• Hospital stays

• Surgery

• Physical therapy

• Prescription medications

• Future medical treatment

If your injuries are severe, it’s likely you will need ongoing medical care. Whether it’s follow-up visits, additional treatments, or rehabilitation, these costs can add up quickly. In a successful slip and fall case, you could recover both past and future medical expenses, helping to ensure that you do not have to pay for the treatment of your injuries out of pocket.

Lost Wages

If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, you may be unable to work while you recover. Whether you’re out of work for a few days or several months, this time away can have a significant impact on your income. In addition to recovering your medical expenses, you may also be able to recover the wages you’ve lost as a result of the accident.

This includes:

• Wages lost while you were recovering

• Wages you may continue to lose if you can’t return to work full-time or at all

• Future lost earning potential if your injury affects your ability to work in the same capacity as before

For example, if you suffer a back injury that prevents you from performing physical labor, you may need to adjust your career path. This potential future income loss can also be factored into the settlement or award.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering are a type of non-economic damage that can be awarded in slip and fall lawsuits. Unlike medical expenses or lost wages, pain and suffering are harder to quantify because they represent the physical and emotional toll your injuries take on you.

This can include:

• Chronic pain that limits your ability to perform everyday activities

• Mental anguish, including stress, anxiety, or depression caused by your injury

• Decreased quality of life due to ongoing pain or disability

The amount awarded for pain and suffering varies depending on the severity of the injury, the impact it has on your life, and how long you expect to experience pain and suffering. In some cases, the court will also consider the emotional distress and the trauma caused by the fall itself.

Emotional Distress

Along with pain and suffering, emotional distress can also be a recoverable damage in a slip and fall case. This includes the mental and emotional burden caused by the accident and injury. Emotional distress can manifest in various ways, including:

• Anxiety, depression, or fear stemming from the accident

• Sleep disturbances due to pain or trauma

• Loss of enjoyment in activities once considered enjoyable

Although emotional distress claims are harder to prove, they can still significantly impact the amount of compensation you may receive. To substantiate emotional distress claims, it is helpful to have documentation from mental health professionals, such as a counselor or therapist.

Property Damage

In some slip and fall cases, property damage is an issue as well. For example, if you were carrying personal items like a phone, tablet, or glasses when you fell, and those items were damaged, you could recover the cost of replacing or repairing those items.

While property damage may not always be a major part of the case, it is important to include it in your claim if applicable. The damages you could recover would depend on the value of the items involved.

Loss of Consortium

In severe cases, a slip and fall injury can impact not only the victim but also their loved ones. If the accident causes a significant change in your relationship with your spouse, children, or other family members, your loved ones may be able to pursue a claim for loss of consortium. This refers to the loss of the love, companionship, and support that the injured person’s family member would otherwise receive.

Loss of consortium claims are typically filed by spouses, though other close family members may also have grounds for a claim depending on the circumstances. These claims are intended to compensate the family members for the emotional and relational damages caused by the injury.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are not always awarded in slip and fall cases, but they may be considered under certain circumstances. Unlike compensatory damages (which are intended to reimburse the victim for their losses), punitive damages are meant to punish the party responsible for the injury and deter similar behavior in the future.

Punitive damages are usually only awarded in cases where the defendant’s actions were grossly negligent or intentionally harmful. For example, if the property owner or business deliberately ignored safety hazards, a court might award punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages.

How Fault Affects Your Recovery

In Pennsylvania, the state follows a comparative negligence system when determining fault in personal injury cases, including slip and fall lawsuits. This means that if you are partially at fault for your fall, your compensation may be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you.

For example, if you were injured in a slip and fall accident but were found to be 20% responsible (for example, by not paying attention while walking), your compensation could be reduced by 20%. However, if you are 51% or more at fault for the accident, you will not be eligible to recover damages.

Slip and Fall Injury? Let Us Help You Take the First Step Toward Justice

At Porta Clark & Ward, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that a slip and fall accident can take on your life. Our team is committed to providing legal representation to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Don’t let the aftermath of an injury overwhelm you—reach out to us today at (412) 912-2381 for a free consultation. Let us help you get back on your feet, so you can focus on your recovery.