Slip and Fall

Slip and fall injuries are some of the most common injuries in the United States and the second leading cause of injury in the entire country. Over one million people are injured in a slip and fall accident each year. Out of these, around 17,000 people will die. It has been estimated that the average slip and fall injury will cost an initial $28,000.00 and another $46,000.00 of indirect costs.

Slip and fall cases come in many different forms. The cause of injury could be an open pothole in the ground, a slippery floor, a broken sidewalk, and so on. All these situations pose a dangerous situation that has the potential to cause injury.

More than 70% of all slip and fall accidents can be traced to unsafe conditions and dangers in the environment. These conditions most often arise from poorly designed structures and lacks in maintenance. Even more unsafe environments occur when water is leaking or food spilled and surfaces become slippery.

Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere. Grocery stores, schools, apartments, churches, and even the sidewalk. A slip and fall accident can occur if there is spilled food in a restaurant or water leaking in a department store. Inadequate lighting in a parking garage or a broken glass in a convenience store can easily cause a slip and fall accident.

Property owners are legally responsible to provide reasonable care and maintenance to their property. They must also take reasonable care to protect others from harm and risk of dangers on their property. Property owners must fix dangerous areas or provide adequate warning to the public that it is unsafe. Failure to do so makes them responsible for any injuries and damages that are incurred by anyone on their property.

When a person slips and falls, their case will usually be in a category called premise liability. Premise liability means that someone is injured on another person’s property and because that person owns or maintains such property, that person may be held liable for damages.

It is the injured person’s responsibility to show the other person was a fault in a slip and fall case. One of the main keys in slip and fall cases is ensuring that the situation which caused the fall was not open and obvious. This question is of key importance because an affirmative answer could place liability on the injured party. A dangerous condition is “open and obvious” when a reasonable person in the same situation would have seen the dangerous condition and avoided it.

One of the most important things to do to win the case is to get enough convincing evidence. Time is of the essence and the first few hours after a slip and fall are critical. Evidence from the scene is exceedingly helpful to a slip and fall victim. Taking photos of the area can help a case tremendously.

Seeking legal aid is also critically important in the early hours after a slip and fall. Experienced attorneys such as Moseley Collins have vast experience in slip and fall cases and are able to gather all the pertinent information at the most important times.

In California, the law imposes a statute of limitations, which sets a maximum amount of time that legal proceedings can occur after the date the incident. Each year at our Law Office, people call me to ask me for help that have legitimate cases, only to find their statute of limitations has run out. It is one of the most difficult things for me to tell them I can’t help because they waited too long.

Slip and fall accidents are traumatic, dangerous and expensive. The most often result in missed wages and even loss of job. Far more often than not the injuries incurred from a slip and fall result in some type of permanent damage. Victims to this type of accident need remuneration for the many bills and expenses that occur.

Consider the case of Buelna v. Hill, San Bernardino County Superior County. A landlord failed to maintain his property or provide adequate warning and a rotten, diseased ridden tree fell, hitting a tenant of the property. She suffered injuries including a crushed foot and macerated knee. She alleged premises liability against her landlord and received $2,988,481.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a slip and fall accident in Sacramento County, you will need a lawyer with experience. Call Moseley Collins at (916) 444-4444 for a free consultation.

Moseley Collins is a personal injury attorney serving those badly hurt throughout Northern California. There is absolutely NO FEE to discuss your case and there is absolutely no fee unless we win and get you the money you are entitled to. We are on your side and know what to do to get you compensation and justice.

Moseley Collins
980 9th St, 16th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 444-4444
http://www.moseleycollins.com/