Slip and fall injuries are some of the most common injuries in the workplace, in the home and on public land. It is vital that property owners take adequate steps and measures to prevent as many slip and fall accidents as possible. This is also demonstrated in the fact that compensation claims for these types of injuries can be incredibly high. Some of the highest compensation claims are listed below.
1. $18 Million for Fall in Manhole
A medical student at the University of Pennsylvania fell 18 feet into a manhole after a homeless person had removed the cover. The manhole was operated by Trigen-Philadelphia Energy Corporation. They were proven to be aware of the fact that homeless people would frequently seek shelter in manholes and leave the covers off. Indeed, this had been happening for over a decade and the company did nothing to improve the situation. The medical student sustained spinal injuries, stopping him from continuing his education or embarking on a career. 99.9% of the liability was placed on the hands of Trigen-Philadelphia Energy.
2. $12.2 Million for Slip Outside Miller Mart
A woman slipped outside a Miller Mart store in 2003 and suffered significant brain injuries. She slipped on the raised sidewalk and hit her head on the ground, causing her to lose consciousness. The store, which is part of the Miller Oil Company, was found to be liable because no warnings were in place to state dark algae had formed on the sidewalk. The payout was the largest in Virginia history.
3. $10 million for Grease Slip Outside Wal-Mart
A female truck driver slipped on some spilled grease outside a Wal-Mart store in Greeley, Colorado. The case was highly complicated, as Wal-Mart denied that a spill had occurred at all. However, the woman’s claims were backed up on the second day of the trial. The injury caused her to have three spinal injuries leading her to lose her job and truck. Wal-Mart appealed the verdict, but this has been upheld in court.
4. $7.75 Million for Slip on Driveway
In 2012, a man in Virginia left his apartment and slipped on the ice in doing so. Several of his leg bones were broken and the injury led to various complications as well. Indeed, it looked as though his leg would have to be amputated. The victim was a diabetic, which led to further complications. The court determined that the landlord had not removed snow or ice on the driveway as required by law and was ordered to pay out $7.75 million.
5. $18 Million for Falling Off Defective Scaffolding
A 42 year old construction worker was awarded $18 million after falling from a defective scaffold. The fall led to numerous fractures and chronic pain in his foot area. Furthermore, the physical damage led to him becoming impotent. This also allowed for a loss of consortium verdict to be placed on his case on behalf of his wife. The case is currently on appeal.
6. $11.1 Million for Falling Off a Ladder
A construction worker fell 10 feet off a ladder, hitting his head. While heavily contested, he was able to demonstrate that this led to organic mood disorder and dementia. The defense suggested that the plaintiff was exaggerating his condition, but this was proven not to be the case and he was awarded $11.1 million in damages.
7. $2 Million for Fatal Fall at Wilson College
When a four year old fell to her death from her mother’s dormitory room at Wilson College, the parents of the little girl claimed that it had been caused by a lack of child safety devices in the dormitory. The award was an insurance settlement, as both the college and the company that owned the dormitory denied liability. A confidentiality clause has been included in the settlement.
8. Unknown Damages Paid by Hamilton City
Kelly Bramer, a resident of Hamilton, slipped on ice in February 2009 and suffered a concussion. It was found that the city was negligent, as they had not cleared any snow for 22 days, thereby not upholding their responsibilities towards Hamilton residents. The amount of damages that have been awarded to Bramer have not been disclosed.
9. $400,000 for Fall in Devil’s Playground
The Devil’s Playground, a derelict concrete structure behind the Bayshore Mall in Eureka has been deemed a huge liability. Kathleen Anderson was working with new to town homeless people in an attempt to show them a safe place to sleep and camp overnight. She tripped over a rebar and crashed into the concrete, sustaining a head injury and breaking her shoulder. While the city felt they were not liable for damages as Anderson was walking in a derelict area suggesting people camp there illegally, the judge ruled that the city should have posted warnings about the present dangers.
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