Claremont & Pasadena Premise Liability Lawyer
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), you can call yourself the victim of a fall if you find yourself coming to rest inadvertently on the ground or floor. Taking an unexpected tumble can result in broken bones, spinal cord injury, and cuts and bruises that require medical attention.
If you experience this kind of pain and suffering because a property owner failed to ensure the safety of their premises, you may need help from a slip and fall lawyer serving the Los Angeles region who is determined to help you recover damages due to someone else’s negligence. Let a practiced personal injury attorney thoroughly review your case so you can pursue the compensation you deserve rather than just the minimum payout an insurer offers to avoid a lawsuit.
The Danger of Slip and Fall Accidents
According to the WHO, the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide is falls. Specifically, the organization’s most recent data shows nearly 650,000 people die from falls each year, with those over age 65 being especially vulnerable. In addition to the high number of fall-related accidental deaths, falls require over 37 million people to seek medical care every year.
Although perhaps an unknown truth, falls are actually considered a global public health problem. Moreover, the financial burden falls cause can be significant. The WHO estimates that the average cost per fall in the U.S. totals $1,049, a figure that soars to over the equivalent of $3,600 in Australia and Finland.
Common Causes of Slips and Falls
Most people will slip or fall at one point or another, but when these accidents stem from another person’s negligence, legal action can be taken. Even the most commonplace kinds of slip and falls can result in lifelong injuries and seriously change a person’s life.
Property owners owe it to their visitors and guests to provide a reasonably safe environment. This means they are responsible for duties like salting walkways during colder months and mopping up spills to prevent slips and falls. If the property owner or manager fails to remedy a hazard—or at minimum, block it or warn visitors to stay away from it—they can be held liable for the damage done in a slip and fall accident.
In the interest of public safety, both indoor and outdoor staircases should be clearly lit and evenly maintained, as should floorboards, carpeting, and sidewalks. Failure to maintain fixtures such as these in publicly trafficked areas can be considered grounds for liability, even if they only represent a potential for injury and not a realized one.
Recoverable Compensation for Slip and Fall Victims
People injured in slip and fall accidents have the right to pursue legal action if their fall stems from another person’s negligence. Settlements frequently include compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Psychological damage
- Punitive damages
It is difficult to be sure how much a particular lawsuit could be worth without examining the specific details of each unique case. A Claremont and Pasadena slip and fall attorney may be able to give a prospective plaintiff an idea of how much their settlement could be worth.
Statute of Limitations in Slip and Fall Cases
California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 places a two-year deadline for filing a claim for injury or death due to another’s negligence. In addition, California CCP §338 places a three-year deadline for filing a lawsuit for either the repair or replacement of property damaged when someone slipped and fell. The statute of limitations the state imposes means that injury victims generally need to seek legal counsel as quickly as you can after your accident.
How a Los Angeles Slip and Fall Attorney Could Help
Someone may be a slip and fall victim because a property owner did not place a sign to warn of wet floors, improperly installed handrails, violated building codes, performed shabby maintenance, or some other infraction that subjected a visitor to danger. Getting through the tough times ahead often an attorney who knows how to conduct a detailed investigation and accurately analyze the situation to help ensure a settlement in the accident victim’s favor to the best of their abilities.
An experienced Claremont and Pasadena slip and fall lawyer understands how important financial compensation in light of the medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, and lost wages that victims of such accidents often incur. As such, they can strive diligently to minimize a person’s pain and suffering, all while helping them recover to the greatest extent that California premises liability law allows.
Speaking with a Los Angeles Slip and Fall Attorney
The physical, mental, and emotional toll that a falling injury can take on you and your loved ones can be much more severe than many people may think, which is why it may be important for you to retain a Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer who can take the time to get to know you, the circumstances that led to your injury and your potential options for seeking compensation. With a dedicated local attorney on your side, you can rest assured that your case is in good hands, so call today to schedule a consultation.
