Sacramento Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer

Property owners, businesses, or other commercial enterprises are responsible for providing safe environments for those lawfully on their premises. This responsibility may include routine property inspections, immediate repairs of any hazardous conditions, or warning signs for any hazards until they have been repaired. When an owner fails to ensure their property is reasonably safe and a slip and fall accident occurs, the injured party may hold them liable for their injuries and damages.
Any attorney you are considering handling a slip-and-fall case for you should have extensive experience handling these different types of incidents because each will have unique aspects that must be adequately proven to resolve your case.
How to Bring a Claim for a Slip and Fall AccidentHere are a few tips on successfully pursuing a slip and fall lawsuit. If you or a family member has been injured in this type of accident, please review these tips carefully - your case could depend on it.
From a legal standpoint, slip and fall injuries differ significantly from traffic accidents in a critical manner: The conditions that caused a slip and fall injury can much more easily and quickly be "cleaned up" or "lost" than the physical evidence resulting from a traffic incident. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, gathering and preserving evidence from the incident is critical.
Using Pictures as Evidence for a Slip and Fall Case- Take pictures of the location where you fell, especially the floor surface, as soon as possible to capture the condition at the time of your fall.
- If possible, take photographs of the condition of your clothing and shoes immediately following the accident.
- Take pictures of any rugs, mats, or slip prevention fabrics at the site. If the location fails to have any of these fabrics or any other type, take photos to show the lack of the safety items.
- Take photographs of any warning signs that might be in the area of the location of the accident.
- If you sustained a visible injury such as a cut, bruise, or scrape, take a picture of the injury to preserve the state of the injury at the time of the injury.
- Take as many photographs as possible - no matter how trivial you might think it is. Your attorney will decide what is and what is not essential.
- Take the name, address, and telephone number of any potential witness and save this information someplace where it will not be lost.
- Return to the accident scene, and visit any nearby homes or businesses, if applicable, for any potential witness(es) to the accident.
- Revisit the scene of the accident several times and at the same time when the accident occurred. Some people have a habit of driving by or stopping by the accident location as part of their typical day. You may be able to find a witness.
- If you can get witness contact information, do not call, talk, or try to get any written statements from them. Let your lawyer contact them.
- Most importantly, save the shoes that you were wearing at the time you slipped and fell. Place them inside a plastic garbage bag so any materials stuck to the shoes will remain.
- Store all of the articles of clothing you were wearing at the time of the accident in a plastic bag in a safe place where they will not be lost. Do not wash them.
- If possible, do not leave the accident scene getting an accident report that the manager, owner, employee, or other person has filled out while in your presence.
- If the item you slipped on is non-perishable, save a sample in a safe place where it will not be lost.
- If the item is perishable, i.e., vegetable, or fruit, try to preserve the thing in a liquid chemical preservative or freezer.
A government study has shown that slip and fall incidents cause 15% of all accidental deaths and are second only to motor vehicle accidents as a cause of unintentional fatalities.
A variety of helpful information about preventing slip and fall injuries is available through the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's website: Walking-Working Surfaces (SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLS)
In the wintertime, snowy, icy, or wet sidewalks present a particular danger for slip and fall injuries. An article describing the risks and concerns of these conditions from the U.S. Department of Transportation can be read in [pdf] format here: Ice, Snow, and Slippery Sidewalks.
Sacramento Slip and Fall Accident FAQCan a lawsuit be filed against the city if I trip and fall on a sidewalk?
Typically, the injured party must file suit against the city and the adjacent property owner as they both will point at each other as being responsible. Additionally, a claim must be filed against the City or County, and there is only a 180-day period to do so.
If I slip and fall on a stairway or steps which have been neglected, can I file a lawsuit?
There are many issues to look at in a stairway fall. The height and width of the steps and risers, the condition of the wood, and the handrails of lack thereof. An experienced attorney will have access to standards and experts to determine if there is or is not a good solid case.
Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers in Sacramento, CA
If you or a loved one has been involved in a slip and fall accident and would like to discuss your legal options, call our experienced Sacramento Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.
We are members of the National Association of Distinguished Counsel and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
See our client reviews on Google, Yelp, and Avvo and our past verdicts and settlements.
Editor's Note: This page has been updated for accuracy and relevancy [cha 6.23.22]
Photo by Justus Menke on Unsplash [cs 1142]
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