Slip and fall accidents, better known in the legal world as premises liability, are unfortunately all too common. Slip and fall accidents occur from poor lighting, cracked or uneven pavement, slippery sidewalks, slippery or wet surfaces, improperly installed walkways and railings, loose carpeting, and other unmarked hazards.
Slip and fall accident can result in serious injuries, which require ongoing medical attention. You have a right to ensure that your ongoing medical bills and expenses are covered, so that you do not incur ongoing costs when you were not at fault. Let the DeWitt Law Firm take care of your legal issues, while you take care of recovering from your injuries.
Recent changes in the premises liability statute have shifted the responsibility from business owners to the injured party in slip and fall cases. Prior to June 30, 2016, an injured person was only required to prove that their injury resulted from a substance or object that was out of place and thus hazardous. Today, the injured person has the responsibility of establishing that the business knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to correct it.
For those who have been injured in a slip and fall accident, acquiring evidence is crucial. You should contact an attorney immediately after the accident occurs, so that your attorney can begin to contact witnesses, gather video evidence, take photographs, obtain medical records, and review any incident reports that may have been prepared.
If you are involved in a slip and fall accident, you should make a statement and file an incident report as soon as the fall occurs. You should also use your smartphone to photograph the substance on the floor and the surrounding area, if possible. It has never been more important for injured parties to hire an experienced attorney to advocate to protect their right to compensation.
Property owners have an obligation to maintain their property in a safe manor to prevent injuries. Property owners must:
If a property owner fails to maintain the property in a safe manor, the owner may be liable for your injuries. For example, the curbs and ramps installed in the parking lot must comply with building codes. If the property owner fails to comply with the applicable codes and a person is injured due to the non-compliance, the property owner may be liable for the injuries sustained. A property owner may also be liable if the owner of the property is negligent in failing to provide adequate security or failing to properly train his or her employees. While each case will vary depending upon the facts, it is important that you speak with an experienced attorney to properly evaluate your case.