How much is my slip and fall claim worth?
Slip and fall values span two orders of magnitude. The spread depends on injury severity, property type, and how clearly you can prove the owner had notice of the hazard.
Benchmark table
| Case type | Severity | Low | Typical range | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slip and fall | Soft tissue | $2K | $5K, $20K | $50K | Comparative fault commonly reduces recovery. |
| Slip and fall | Fracture or surgery | $25K | $50K, $200K | $500K | Notice and prior-incident evidence are central. |
The bands
- Minor strain, full recovery: $2,000–$15,000.
- Soft tissue with PT, 3–6 months: $10,000–$45,000.
- Fracture, no surgery: $25,000–$75,000.
- Surgical fracture (hip, wrist, ankle): $75,000–$250,000.
- TBI or spinal cord involvement: $250,000–$1M+, subject to coverage.
What caps the number
Property insurance limits. A typical small business carries $1M per occurrence in commercial general liability. Large national chains carry $5–25M. Private homeowners typically $100k–500k. Above policy limits, recovery depends on personal or corporate assets — often uncollectible against small businesses, sometimes available against deep-pocket chains.
What moves the multiplier up or down
Up: clear surveillance video showing the hazard before the fall, a documented prior incident, a violation of building code or industry standard, child or elderly victim.
Down: open and obvious hazard, your phone in your hand at the moment of the fall, inappropriate footwear, a comparative-fault state where you bear partial responsibility.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- [1]Older Adult Falls Data — U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- [2]Cost of Fall Injuries Among Older Adults — U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- [3]Slips, Trips, and Falls — Injury Data — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics