Slip and falls happen to all of us at one time or another. But when they result in an injury through no fault of your own, you should seek legal advice. If you need an Antelope Valley slip and fall lawyer, you should make Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accidents Lawyers your first choice.
In your own home, of course, maintaining a safe living space is your responsibility. However, when you slip and fall on any commercial property, the property owners can be held financially accountable for your injuries due to “premises liability.”
Government buildings, stores, museums, sports arenas, and private property such as another person’s home are also covered by premises liability. According to California law, there is a duty to exercise reasonable care to maintain any property that people may visit, work in, or reside in, ensuring that it is safe.
Some falls result in embarrassment and a case of hurt pride. Far too often, however, they cause personal injuries ranging from sprains to broken bones. More serious injuries might result in disabilities, paralysis, brain injuries, or even death.
What Is A Key Factor In Establishing Liability
The key factor in establishing liability for a premises liability issue is to determine if the property owner or tenant had actual knowledge of the dangerous condition. Property owners who do not properly inspect their buildings can be held accountable for failing to comply with their duty to inspect or properly maintain their properties. This can be done by showing that the hazardous location was not inspected within a reasonable amount of time. Also, very often a landlord or tenant will receive complaints about a dangerous or hazardous condition at their property; if they then fail to address the problem and make it safe, the landlord and/or tenant can have serious liability if the condition causes a personal injury later.
There are all kinds of slip and fall or premises liability cases. Victims can suffer devastating injuries by falling down broken stairs, slipping on wet surfaces, drowning in a swimming pool, getting burned in a fire or explosion, suffering lacerations from broken glass, getting bitten by a dog, suffering injuries from a roof cave-in or from being mugged or assaulted because of inadequate security. Dangerous conditions can exist in any type of open space or building. Devastating incidents commonly occur at shopping malls, grocery stores, government buildings, commercial facilities, theatres, apartments, and even private homes.
Many premises liability cases involve slip-and-fall accidents. Slip-and-fall accidents arise when the victim trips or falls due to a dangerous condition at the premises, such as a slippery, wet surface (especially if it is unmarked), or uneven pavement or uneven walkway, obstructions or obstacles, falling objects or other dangerous conditions, and can result in injuries ranging from sprains, strains, and lacerations to broken bones, fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord damage. Many of these injuries result in time away from work, lengthy hospitalization, complicated surgeries, physical therapy, chiropractic care, rehabilitation, pain and suffering and a number of other related losses. Financial support may be available for all of these injuries and damages if the victim can prove that the negligence of the property owner or manager contributed to the accident.
Types of Slips and Falls
Our Antelope Valley slip and fall lawyers are experienced in dealing with slip and fall injury cases from a broad range of causes. Anything that interferes with visibility or impedes your ability to maintain stable footing can result in a fall. Some examples include:
- Wet floors from spills or mopping
- Ice or snow on walkways, sidewalks, or in parking lots
- Inadequate lighting
- The wrong type of flooring or mats
- Improper signage
- Missing or inadequate handrails
- Hazards in the walkway
- Potholes, or cracked and uneven pavements
When you schedule an initial consultation with an Antelope Valley slip and fall lawyer at Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accidents Lawyers, we will evaluate your case for free. We will consider whether the dangerous conditions of the premises or the floor can be proved conclusively as the cause of your injury.
For example, if you fell on a wet floor in a store, we would look at whether there was a “wet floor” sign warning visitors of slippery conditions. Although signage isn’t required by law, it does show negligence by the company or store owner in warning their visitors of hazardous conditions.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall
You should begin to gather evidence for your case immediately after your fall.
- Even if your injuries seem minor at the time, inform security and/or management about your fall. Request that they fill out an accident report and provide you with a copy.
- Use your cell phone to take pictures of the scene. This shows the absence of warning signs and any conditions that might have contributed to your fall at the time.
- Gather contact information from any witnesses who saw the fall or the conditions that caused it.
- See a doctor and explain that you have suffered a fall. You might have serious injuries even though you aren’t experiencing pain or other symptoms. Documenting your injuries early on will prevent the property owner from claiming you received your injuries from another source or that they didn’t happen at all.
- Don’t accept any compensation from the property owner before talking with an Antelope Valley slip and fall lawyer who knows what your case is worth.
Slips and Falls in Nursing Homes
The number of seniors living in nursing homes and assisted care facilities is on the rise, along with the number of falls and injuries. Loss of balance, poor vision, weakness, and taking medications are some of the reasons that seniors are more likely to fall than younger adults.
Seniors are also more vulnerable to serious injuries from falls when they do happen. For many, a slippery floor or inadequate handrails result in life-threatening injuries and wrongful death. Those who receive serious injuries often require significantly longer recovery times. Hip fractures are more common in seniors, and many elderly adults never recover from this type of serious injury.
Nursing homes are liable for their residents’ slips and falls under premises liability, but also under medical negligence. Sometimes the layout of the facility contributes to the problem. Understaffing or failing to provide adequate care or planning for the patient might be to blame. Some of the most common falls in nursing homes occur when residents fall from their beds, walk without assistance, take a shower, or use the bathroom on their own.
If a loved one has fallen while a resident in a nursing home, contact an Antelope Valley slip and fall lawyer at Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accidents Lawyers. If their injury was preventable, we may be able to help you get compensation for their injuries.
The High Cost of Slips and Falls
Serious injuries might require hospitalization, rehabilitation, huge medical bills, and time off from work. You might be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. You shouldn’t be burdened with excessive debt at a time when you need to focus on getting better. If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, they should pay.
Why You Need An Experienced Antelope Valley Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer On Your Side
To win a slip and fall case, you must first prove that someone did or failed to do something that resulted in your fall. The incident might include several challenges that make it difficult to prove the other party’s negligence. You need to work with an experienced Antelope Valley slip and fall injury lawyer with a record of success.
Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accidents Lawyers will work with you to gather evidence and develop a strong case. We have helped many victims of slips and falls in Antelope Valley recover fair compensation after their injuries. Financial compensation can’t make up for what you lost due to your injuries, but it can help you move forward with your life with some financial security.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries from a slip and fall, contact Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accidents Lawyers. We are here 24/7 to take your call. We’ll start by providing a free analysis of your case. If you decide to pursue it, we help you every step of the way. We know how to build a strong case and get you the compensation you need to move forward. We will deal with the insurance companies and take care of the paperwork to get you the most benefits as quickly as possible. Let us take care of the details while you focus on getting well.
