Slip & Fall
Accidents happen, but that does not mean they should. Over 800,000 patients are hospitalized each year because of slip and fall injuries. If you slip and fall while on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Slip & Fall Claims Process
Property owners have a responsibility to maintain safe premises. Should anyone get hurt on their premises, the property owner could be considered negligent if the expectations for property maintenance are not met.
Duty – Property owners are held to a standard of care when it comes to maintaining their property. They must ensure a safe environment for anyone who might come on to their property, including tenants, guests of tenants, delivery people, and visitors. The only time there might be an exception is when the injury occurred to someone who was trespassing.
Breach – There must be proof that the property owner had knowledge of the safety liability and had a reasonable amount of time to address the concern. For example, if you notified your landlord that the light in the stairwell was broken and a week later you tripped down the same stairwell, the landlord would be considered negligent.
Damages – After proving that the property owner was at fault, damages are determined based on how much compensation you should receive because of personal property damage or physical injury.
Causation – This final step involves connecting the property owner’s breach of duty with your damages. Causation is proven when it has been determined that your injury was a direct result of the property owner’s negligence.
What to Do After a Slip & Fall Accident
The most important thing to do after a slip and fall accident is to document as much as possible.
- Take pictures of what caused you to slip or fall. Make sure to include photos from a distance that show the entirety of the scene as well as close-up photos of exactly what caused you to slip or fall.
- Determine if there were any witnesses to the accident. Ask them if you can take a photo of them and their identification, should you need them to give a statement later.
- Report the incident. If you fell inside of a store, then find an employee and have the manager come to the scene of the accident, showing them what caused you to slip or fall. Report the incident and make sure they document that it occurred. Take a photo of the manager as well. If you fell on someone’s personal property, then try to get in contact with the property owner or landlord.
Slip and fall accidents are common and can cause serious injury. If you have experienced a slip and fall accident due to a property owner’s breach of duty, contact Rob Levine & Associates. Our team of experienced attorneys will help guide you through the process of obtaining the compensation you deserve.
