SLIP-AND-FALL ACCIDENTS: HOLDING PROPERTY OWNERS ACCOUNTABLE
Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in the U.S. More than car accidents. More than assaults. Common falls, not falls from great heights, can cause devastating injury.
That sheds a different light on the classic silent film portrayal of the comical tumble. Slips, trips and falls can result in broken hips, spinal injury, head injuries and sprains, incurring costs from emergency room visits, post-accident medical bills, rehabilitation, lost work time or disability. To speak with an experienced lawyer, call 310-773-3311 or contact me online. Free consultation.
Premises Liability Law
Slip-and-falls come under the umbrella of premises liability. The law makes owners of property responsible for maintaining a safe environment for “invitees” — someone who is expressly or by implication invited onto a premises. Guests in a hotel, tenants of a building, students at a university and patients in a hospital, for instance, are invitees.
When injured on another’s premises, to pursue a suit the victim must prove that the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition that led to the accident and failed to fix the situation.
Wet and slippery floors are an exceedingly common cause of falls, as are damaged flooring, clutter and debris, potholes and trenches, buckled and broken sidewalks, and inadequately lighted stairways and parking lots.
In a slip-and-fall instance, the plaintiff is usually asking for compensation through the commercial insurance policy of the business.
Supporting Your Case
If you have fallen or tripped and suffered an injury, time and documentation are two crucial elements of a case.
- Use your cellphone. Photograph the cause and the scene of the accident. This is important because it can be cleaned up immediately. Many phones have video capability. Video leads to rapid resolution of disputes.
- Get contact information for witnesses.
- Report the accident to management immediately.
- Call an attorney.
Creative And Skilled Lawyer For Your Slip-And-Fall Injury
A successful premises liability case can provide you and your family the money for urgently needed medical care, reimburse you for lost wages and begin to redress the physical and emotional trauma of injury.
I give each case my personal attention and use a network of professional resources to support efforts to prevail in your California personal injury case. For a free consultation, call the Law Offices of C.W. Blaylock, where I can help you assert your right to recover damages, at 310-773-3311 or contact me online.