If you suffered injuries or harm related to a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, one of the greatest legal hurdles is to prove that the property owner had knowledge of the unsafe condition that directly caused your injuries and losses.
However, if you did suffer any kind of injuries related to the negligence of a property owner, you may have the legal right to receive compensation for your unexpected medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering related to your slip and fall accident. Consider calling our legal team at (800) 223-5115 to understand how a Glendale slip and fall lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can work with you to get you the compensation you deserve after a slip and fall accident.
Actual vs. Constructive Knowledge
In some slip and fall accidents, there is no way that a property owner could have done anything to prevent the dangerous condition. For example, if a small child spills something in the aisle of a grocery store and a few seconds later, another customer slips and falls as a result of the slippery floor, the property owner may not have a responsibility to compensate the victim due to the fact that they did not know, and they could not have known, of the unsafe condition on their floors.
However, property owners have a responsibility to manage, inspect, and repair dangerous or hazardous conditions on their property. Property owners must take note of their property in a reasonable way, and either warn visitors or guests of unsafe conditions or take proactive steps to correct and remove hazardous areas.
For example, if a guest or visitor tells a property owner that there is a spill or dangerous area on their property and they refuse to look at it, warn guests about it, or remove it, they may have held responsibility for any person that later slips and falls as a result of that unsafe condition.
Proving that a property owner had actual knowledge or constructive knowledge of an unsafe condition on their property often takes an investigation and gathering of evidence.
A Glendale slip and fall lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you better understand the strength of your slip and fall case and how you can potentially prove that a property owner had knowledge of an unsafe condition that led to your slip and fall injuries.
Understanding the Different Types of Visitors
Not every visitor to a property receives the same type of legal protection from property owners. The following are the three different types of visitors to a property and the legal protections and responsibility owed to them by a property owner.
Invitee
An invitee is a person that enters a business establishment for the purpose of doing business or acting as a consumer. Business property owners allow visitors known as invitees into their establishment for the purpose of profit and commerce. As a result, an invitee has a high expectation that they will enter a safe environment in which they will not encounter any dangerous or hazardous areas without warning.
Licensee
Many people invite guests and friends over to their home, apartment, or private property in order to entertain or visit. These social guests are licensees under the law, and a property owner also has a duty to either warn them of a dangerous condition or keep their property free from any unsafe areas that would cause a risk of harm.
Trespasser
A trespasser on a business property or on a privately-owned property is a person who enters on to a property without legal permission from the property owner. Many states have a legal doctrine known as the “attractive nuisance” doctrine, which requires property owners to protect certain areas that children would have an attraction to, such as playgrounds or swimming pools.
However, the state of California no longer has an attractive nuisance doctrine. In 1970, a California court removed the attractive nuisance doctrine under the ruling in the court case of Beard v. Atchison. Therefore, in the state of California, property owners have a general duty to ensure that their property remains reasonably safe to anyone, including trespassers.
For a free legal consultation with a Slip and Fall Accidents Lawyer serving Glendale, call (800) 794-0444
Types of Injuries Suffered as a Result of Slip and Fall Accidents
Every accident involving a slip and fall can result in different types of injuries and losses. Some of the types of injuries involved in a slip and fall accident can include spinal cord injuries, broken or fractured bones, soft tissue damage, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, permanent disabilities, internal organ bleeding or damage, lacerations, bruising, or even death.
If you suffered any type of injury following a slip and fall accident in Glendale, make sure you always visit a medical professional in order to receive a property evaluation regarding your injuries.
Additionally, if you discover that your symptoms worsen or that you develop any kind of new symptom, you should revisit your healthcare provider. Visiting with a medical professional does more than simply provide you with quality care following your slip and fall accident. Visiting a medical professional provides proof that your injuries were directly related to your slip and fall accident and not the result of a prior pre-existing medical condition.
Glendale Slip and Fall Accidents Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
How a Glendale Slip and Fall Lawyer Can Help Your Case
A slip and fall lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 223-5115 can help you determine how to proceed with your slip and fall injury case, how to gather evidence and information to show that a property owner had knowledge of an unsafe condition, negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, and ensure your legal rights remain protected throughout the entire legal process.
Additionally, hiring a lawyer can help get your questions answered and make you feel more comfortable as you make decisions regarding how to move forward with your slip and fall accident case. Remember, you only have two years from the date of your accident to file a claim in the state of California under the California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §335.1. Therefore, time is of the essence.
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