Los Angeles Slip and Fall / Trip And Fall Attorney
Every year, more than a million people across the country are hospitalized because of a slip and fall or trip and fall accident. That amounts to an average of two thousand emergency room visits a day just for slip, trip, and fall injuries. Elderly Americans are at especially high risk of a fall injury: A third of Americans aged 65 and older fall every year. More than 60 percent of nursing home residents fall at least once a year. Slip and fall accidents are a leading cause of injury for people of all age groups nationwide. Slips, trips, and falls are also entirely preventable.
The slip and fall/trip and fall injury lawyer at Morris Law Firm has years of experience pursuing personal injury claims after slips, trips, and falls. Whether you were injured at a grocery store, an office building, a construction worksite, an apartment building, or inside a residential home, if you fell on someone else’s property due to their negligence, you are entitled to compensation. Our premises liability legal team is ready to fight for your right to recover the damages you are owed after your Los Angeles slip or trip and fall accident.
Who is Liable After a Slip & Fall Accident?
When you are a lawful guest or visitor on someone else’s property, the property owner or manager has a responsibility to keep the premises safe for you. That duty of care applies whether you are a shopper at a grocery store, a guest in a home or apartment building, or an employee in an office complex.
To bring a successful claim for damages after a slip and fall accident, a plaintiff must demonstrate:
- The defendant owned, leased, occupied, or otherwise controlled the property,
- The defendant was negligent in their use or maintenance of that property,
- The plaintiff was harmed by their slip or trip and fall accident, and
- The defendant’s negligence was a substantial factor in harming the plaintiff.
A defendant may be negligent if: (a) there is a hazard on their property creating an unreasonable risk of harm; (b) they knew about the hazard or, through the exercise of reasonable care, should have known; and (c) the defendant failed to either repair, warn against, or protect visitors from the hazard.
If a store employee creates a wet floor, for example, they should either clean it up or properly warn guests of the danger (e.g., by putting up a “wet floor” sign). Even if they do not cause the hazard themselves, the store manager has a responsibility to inspect their property and ensure the premises are safe for others.
California used to distinguish the duty owed by a property owner depending on the status of the visitor. For example, a commercial customer would be owed a greater duty of care than a social guest, and a trespasser might be owed no duty at all. Now, a court or jury will instead evaluate all factors to determine whether the property owner failed to use reasonable care to keep their property in a reasonably safe condition. Relevant factors might include the location of the property, the likelihood and seriousness of an injury, whether the defendant knew about or should have known about the risk of harm, and other factors.
Common Causes of Slip, Trip & Fall Accidents
Slip, trip, and fall accidents can happen for any number of reasons. The team at Morris Law Firm is ready to help you recover after a slip and fall accident caused by any kind of negligent hazard. Common causes of slip, trip, and fall accidents include:
- Uncleaned spills or mopped floors left unmarked
- Uneven surfaces and unexpected elevation changes
- Unsecured carpeting and other loose flooring
- Staircase or handrail collapse
- Entryways, sidewalks, and parking lots left icy or wet due to weather conditions
- An unexpected change in the substance of flooring
- Inadequate lighting
- Narrow staircases
- Uneven steps
- Discarded equipment, materials, and other hazards
- Loose electrical cords
If a property owner left one of these hazards unattended, or some other danger on their premises was either not remedied or not clearly marked as a hazard, then any injury that results might give rise to a premises liability claim. If you, your children, or a loved one were hurt in a slip and fall accident because of the negligence of a property owner or operator, you have the right to recover for the harm you and your family suffered.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Slip and Fall Accident?
If you were hurt in a slip and fall on someone else’s property, you could be eligible for a significant monetary recovery. A wide range of economic and noneconomic damages are available in a California personal injury case. At Morris Law Firm, we help injured slip and fall victims seek maximum compensation for their injuries, including damages for:
- Medical bills for past and ongoing treatment
- Future anticipated medical costs, including future treatments, ongoing care, nursing care, and physical therapy
- Lost income due to missed work
- Loss of future earning capacity due to permanent limitations
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress caused by scarring or disfigurement
- Punitive damages, if the defendant’s conduct was especially reckless or egregious
- Wrongful death damages, including compensation for the loss of support and companionship
Reach Out to Morris Law Firm After a Slip and Fall Accident in Los Angeles or Southern California
We understand there are many ways you can be injured in a premises liability incident. Slips, trips, and falls happen in a variety of ways, and proving the property owner is liable can be a difficult prospect. Contact our Los Angeles injury attorney today to evaluate your unique slip and fall claim. The dedicated premises liability lawyer at Morris Law Firm will give you a personalized evaluation, lay out your legal rights, and work with you to build your strongest case for a comprehensive recovery.
Call us today at 747-283-1144 for a fast response or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.
