Whether you were searching for a specific item or simply killing extra time that you had on your hands, a slip and fall in a dollar store can turn your life upside down within minutes. From costly medical bills to unpaid monthly expenses, you may become stressed and overwhelmed by the costs piling up after your accident.
However, the good news is that you may be eligible to file a slip and fall accident claim, which could potentially result in compensation to help you recover your losses. Below, our premises liability attorney will go over seven losses that you may be able to obtain compensation for in a dollar store slip and fall case.
1. Medical bills
After a dollar store slip and fall accident, you should seek medical attention immediately. Even if you do not feel any pain or see any obvious signs of injuries, you must visit a hospital or doctor’s office to rule out any hidden injuries and to show that you were in an accident at the dollar store. When you do this, you may start to notice hospital bills, doctor’s office fees, and medication expenses accumulating at a fast rate, which can cause intense feelings of stress and frustration.
However, a slip and fall accident lawyer will work with accountants, doctors, and other professionals to calculate your current and future medical bills and demand that the at-fault party cover them. They will factor in all hospital and doctor office visits, prescriptions, surgeries, medical devices, and more.
2. Lost income
It is not uncommon for slip and fall victims to miss work. Whether they need a few days off to attend doctor’s appointments or need to take several months off to rest and heal, the accident and injuries may prevent them from working and earning a paycheck. This can affect their entire family as their bills may go unpaid and they may not be able to put food on the table. If this is the case for you, you may be able to claim compensation for your lost income or wages. Depending on how long you are out of work due to the accident, you may also be able to claim lost earning capacity, lost benefits, lost promotions, and more.
3. Diminished quality of life
Individuals who suffer injuries in a slip and fall accident are likely to experience a diminished quality of life. This is because their injuries may prevent them from doing the activities and attending the events that they once loved. For example, if you are an athlete who broke your leg in a slip and fall accident, you may no longer be able to run or exercise like you used to. Even if you have no specific hobbies or activities that you enjoy, you may have difficulties getting out of bed, getting dressed, and feeding and bathing yourself, which can severely affect you mentally, physically, and emotionally.
4. Transportation costs
It is important to know that you can claim transportation costs after a dollar store slip and fall accident. This is because you will most likely need to travel to various hospitals and doctor’s offices for medical treatment and rehabilitation. Therefore, to help you cover these costs, you should claim compensation for the gas, mileage, bus or train fares, rental car fees, and parking costs that you use or pay for when traveling to your appointments. If you need to travel outside of your city or state, you can also include hotel reservation fees.
5. Home modifications
If you are in a wheelchair, using crutches, or have lost some or all of your mobility from the accident, you may need home modifications to make your life easier. For example, you may need lower countertops and cabinets, shower handrails, wider doorways, and a ramp leading to your front door, which can cost a lot of money. However, as long as you can prove that these modifications can help you after your accident, you may be able to obtain compensation to help you cover them.
6. Home service expenses
Some slip and fall accident victims need to hire home services. For example, you may need to hire a home health nurse to monitor your health throughout the day while your spouse is at work. If you live alone or have young children, you may also need to hire someone to cook, clean, and take care of your household chores while you recover. Therefore, it is important to remember to claim these home service expenses as losses from your dollar store slip and fall accident.
7. Physical, occupational, and psychological therapy
After a slip and fall accident, it is common to need months or years of rehabilitation. This may include physical, occupational, and psychological therapy to help you gain your strength back, relearn how to carry out your daily tasks, and to overcome your mental and emotional struggles from the accident. Although these therapies can become extremely expensive, they are very helpful during the healing and recovery process, which means you can most likely recover compensation to help you pay for them.
Have you or a family member recently suffered injuries in a dollar store slip and fall accident? If so, the slip and fall accident attorneys at Kwartler Manus, LLC are here to help. Our team is experienced, skilled, and knowledgeable in these types of cases, and we will do everything we can to advocate for your rights and secure the maximum amount of compensation you need and deserve. Please call or contact us to schedule a free case review in Philadelphia or New Jersey today. We look forward to meeting and discussing with you soon!