Slip and fall or trip and fall injuries are premises liability cases because the injury is the result of an unsafe or defective condition on someone else’s property. When the owner of the property fails to keep his or her property safe and as a result you are injured, you may have a legal case for you pain and suffering, medical bills and lost wages. Fall injuries can be some of the most serious injuries and often require therapy, rehabilitation, and surgery. Sometimes these injuries can cause a temporary or permanent disability. In addition to a negligence claim there may be a breach of warranty claim against a property owner who is negligent and fails to meet the duty of care necessary for safe premises. It is very important that the owners of a property adhere to the proper safety standards and safe practices for floors, stairs, ramps, mats, and other surfaces. When the injuries are the result of someone’s carelessness and violation of safety standards, the victim is left dealing with the physical, emotional, and financial consequences. To win a slip and fall case, the owner of the property must be negligent or in breach of warranty.
Some examples of where premises liability cases occur are another person’s home, an apartment complex, restaurant, supermarket or grocery store, a retail shop, sporting event, or a business. A property owner should adhere to floor, walkway, step, and ramp safety standards, building codes and safe practices to prevent a slip or trip hazard. Proper maintenance practices also are essential to prevent falls. Proving negligence and proving that your injuries were related to the fall is complex and many times difficult.
The insurance company will investigate how your fall happened and use every possible angle to defend the property owner and lower the monetary value of your injury.
The owner of the place where you fell does not have to prove they didn’t do anything wrong; the victim has the burden of proving the owner was negligent. That is why legal experience matters.
What Should You Do After a Slip and Fall or Trip and Fall?
Get immediate medical attention if you need it
Report your injury to the manager
If an incident report is written by the manager, ask for a copy
Get photos of the area where you fell
Get names and addresses of willing witness.
Please call me today for a free consultation. My number is 802-888-7707.