You’ve slipped and fallen on or near the property of a business due to a dangerous condition. You were paying attention and behaving reasonably, but you fell nonetheless because the business owner negligently permitted a dangerous condition to exist. You suffered an injury as a result, causing you to accrue medical bills, lose out on wages, and endure pain and suffering.
Under these facts, you may think it would be simple enough to gain compensation for your harm from the responsible business. After all, property owners have a duty to ensure that their premises are safe, and when they fall short of that duty, the law says they must compensate any victims that suffered harm as a result. However, slip and fall cases are rarely that simple.
Property owners will often hotly contest every issue in a case. Whether a condition was unreasonably dangerous, whether a condition was the cause of the fall, and whether medical bills and other damages are properly attributed to the slip and fall can all be surprisingly complex questions to answer. To win slip and fall cases, plaintiffs often need to have qualified expert witnesses testifying on their side. Expert witnesses can help explain complex issues to the court, and they are often persuasive to both judges and jurors alike.
The Use of Expert Testimony in Slip and Fall Cases
Depending on the facts of a case, a plaintiff may need to rely on multiple experts to prove their claim. There are the primary functions that an expert witness can serve in a slip and fall case:
• Establishing that a dangerous condition existed. While some conditions are obviously unreasonably dangerous, a closer inspection is required to make this determination for others. For instance, whether flooring, stairs, railings, or construction defects constitute a dangerous condition can depend on the precise risk presented and prevailing safety standards. Experts trained in engineering or that have deep knowledge of building codes can help a court understand why certain conditions should be considered unreasonably dangerous.
• Demonstrating causation. Slip and fall accidents can cause a range of injuries. Some of these injuries can be extremely serious, even fatal. Judges and jurors may not always understand how a slip and fall can cause serious injuries. Accident reconstruction or medical experts can help show how the injury complained of was in fact caused by the fall and not by some other incident.
• Proving damages. Damages are the award of compensation given to a plaintiff that wins their case. In every personal injury case, the plaintiff must prove the amount of damages owed to them. This means that a plaintiff must prove that all of their medical expenses stemmed from the accident, which almost always requires the expert testimony of a doctor. A medical or vocational expert can also be used to help the court determine a fair amount of damages for lost wages.
Injury Victims Need a Well Connected and Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
The difference between prevailing and losing a personal injury case can often turn on whether the plaintiff had effective expert testimony on his or her side. This is especially true when the defense offers expert testimony of its own. Injury victims need an experienced personal injury attorney that has connections to the types of expert witnesses that can inform and persuade the court effectively.
Williams Elleby Howard & Easter, understands the importance of expert testimony in slip and fall cases. The experienced slip and fall injury attorneys at Williams Elleby Howard & Easter, diligently ensure that their clients have the expert support they need in every case.
If You’ve Suffered a Slip and Fall, Contact Williams Elleby Howard & Easter, Today
If you or a loved one has suffered a slip and fall, it is imperative that you have the support of a qualified and experienced personal injury lawyer. Williams Elleby Howard & Easter, can help you understand your legal rights and options, and work to get you the compensation you deserve.
Our firm has an extensive track record of success getting slip and fall victims the compensation they deserve. Williams Elleby Howard & Easter offers free case evaluations and serves clients throughout the State of Georgia. Call us today to discuss your case at 833-LEGALGA.
