Approximately 10.5 million people in the United States suffer injuries from falls every year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) research indicates that one out of every five accidents involving a fall results in a serious injury. In fact, 95% of all hip fractures in elderly persons are the result of falls.
Not every accident results from another person’s negligence. Some slip and fall accidents are merely the result of distraction or a person’s inattention to their surroundings. However, in other cases, the slip and fall accident is the direct result of a property owner’s negligence.
If you suffered any injuries or losses because of a property owner’s negligence that resulted in a slip and fall accident, you might have the legal right to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. You might consider calling our legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 223-5115 to learn how a Santa Monica slip and fall lawyer can help ensure your legal rights remain protected.
Risk Factors for More Serious Slip and Fall Accident Injuries
While property owners have a legal responsibility to all their guests to keep their property free from dangerous and hazardous conditions, some risk factors make certain people even more susceptible to a fall that leads to even more severe injuries. Some risk factors that could increase the severity of injuries after a slip and fall accident might include:
- Advanced age (weaker bones, skin elasticity, and overall health)
- Weaker immune system due to immunocompromised medical conditions
- Mobility issues
- Medical issues that affect overall health
- Vision issues
- Foot or leg conditions
- Inadequate footwear
It is important to note that insurance companies will attempt to use these high-risk factors to indicate that the victim shared some or all the responsibility for their injuries related to the slip and fall accident. However, a Santa Monica slip and fall lawyer can fight for you to receive the compensation you deserve, even if you fall into one of these high-risk categories. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today to learn more.
What to Do if You Fall While on Business or Private Property
If you slipped and fell at a business or while on private property, you should stay calm. Consider the following steps to take if you slipped and fell due to a property owner’s negligence in keeping their premises free from hazardous or unsafe conditions.
Alert the Property Owner or Management
If you did not do so at the time of the accident, make sure to contact them as soon as possible after the slip and fall accident, so they receive notice of the incident. If you made them aware of the accident when it happened, obtain a copy of the incident report to ensure it contains all pertinent information and matches your recollection of the events.
Seek Medical Evaluation
You may have simply gotten up after the slip and fall accident to prevent embarrassment in front of other people. However, if you notice that you still suffer from any pain, you should seek medical attention. Many serious injuries, such as whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries, do not immediately present symptoms.
Visiting a health care professional can ensure that you receive the diagnostic testing and medical evaluation you need to ensure your health and safety. Additionally, getting looked over by a medical provider establishes the link between your injuries and the slip and fall accident. You will need this record when building a personal injury case to prove that your injuries were not the result of another pre-existing condition.
Gather Witness Information
Ask bystanders for their contact information immediately after the accident. If you did not do so already, attempt to contact all witnesses to the slip and fall accident. In some cases, property owners will have video surveillance footage that will show the slip and fall accident and who else was at the scene of the accident. These witnesses could provide testimony regarding your case later.
Keep Detailed Records
Make sure you keep all the information related to your medical diagnosis, medical bills, lost income resulting from your inability to work, repair bills for any property damaged in your accident, and a diary recording the extent of your physical pain and mental suffering. You can use these documents as evidence in your fight to receive the total amount of compensation you have a right to recover under the law.
If you want to ensure that you understand all the different types of evidence that might exist for you to build a personal injury case against a property owner, consider contacting our legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. We can explain how a Santa Monica slip and fall lawyer could work with you to collect all the evidence needed for your case.
For a free legal consultation with a Slip and Fall Accidents Lawyer serving Santa Monica, call (800) 223-5115
Slip and Fall Accidents and Insurance Company Negotiations
Insurance companies will use heightened risk factors and a lack of evidence from a victim to offer the lowest settlement amount possible to a victim of a slip and fall accident. Insurance company negotiations can prove challenging and adversarial at times. Insurance adjusters often use manipulative and deceptive tactics to have the victim assume responsibility for their injuries or stall the process so that the victim does not file a lawsuit within the two-year statute of limitations required by California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 in California. A personal injury lawyer can handle negotiations with insurance companies and file your suit before the deadline passes.
Santa Monica Slip and Fall Accidents Lawyer Near Me (800) 223-5115
Learn More About How a Santa Monica Slip and Fall Lawyer Can Help You
If you suffered injuries, lost wages, and experienced severe pain and suffering because of a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, you might have the legal right to pursue compensation for all your injuries and losses. You can consult a Santa Monica slip and fall lawyer to ensure your legal rights remain protected and receive answers to all your slip and fall accident questions. Call the team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 223-5115 to receive a free case evaluation.
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