Sacramento Slip-and-Fall Accident Lawyer
Slip and fall incidents often cause serious, even disabling injuries. They result in lost work days and wages; expensive medical care; costly medications; prolonged periods of physical therapy or occupational therapy; and of course, physical pain and emotional suffering. Slips and falls occur in public places and in private businesses, but in hospitals alone they account for the second most common cause of injuries causing employees to have to miss work. Slips and falls are not always caused by what you would expect – water on the floor or icy conditions on sidewalks. Although our seniors are most susceptible to falls, anyone can be seriously injured in a fall, require a stay in a hospital, surgeries, and years of physical therapy.
The Sacramento slip and fall injury attorneys at the Crowell Law Offices know from experience that slip and fall cases create complex liability and insurance coverage issues. Insurance companies often attempt to get by with paying out the least amount for a settlement as compensation for your medical expenses and lost income. They offer just enough in the hope that you will accept a settlement and go away. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, contact us at (916) 303-2800. We will investigate your claim and help you to obtain the compensation you deserve.
California Due Diligence – Who is Liable?
All states have laws making property owners responsible for keeping a safe environment. In California, what is called due diligence is in effect. Due diligence is defined as the care that a reasonable person should exercise in order to keep from causing harm to others on their property.Due diligence applies to places of business as well as private homes – basically anywhere guests may enter. Trespassers have no rights under California law.
The defendant is liable for injuries suffered by guests on his or her property if he or she is determined to have been negligent. An individual is considered to be negligent if he or she knew of a hazard on his or her premises and either did nothing or did not repair or remove the hazard in a timely manner. A plaintiff in a slip and fall case will have to prove that a defendant knew the hazard existed and that he or she failed to warn about the danger or correct the problem. Under California law, property owners or their designees must exhibit ordinary care in maintaining their property and in protecting guests from hazards.
Nature of Slip and Fall Injuries
The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) emphasizes that falls are the leading cause of visits to the emergency room with more than eight million injuries occurring. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), types of slip and fall injuries along with their percentages are as follows:
- Sprains, dislocations, strains, tears: 48.3 percent
- Concussions, contusions, bruises: 22.0 percent
- Fractures: 8.4 percent
- Multiple injuries: 4.2 percent
- Lacerations, punctures, cuts, abrasions: 2.5 percent
- Scalds, burns (chemical, thermal, or electrical): less than 1.0 percent
- Unknown: 13.9 percent
Do I Have a Case?
If you have suffered injuries in a slip and fall incident, and it can be proven that the store owner or property owner was negligent and failed to exhibit ordinary care, you may be eligible to recover damages. Although the majority of slip and fall actions are settled out of court, insurance companies will try to offer as little as possible. You will need the help of an experienced slip and fall injury attorney.
Let Us Advise You
At Crowell Law Offices, our Sacramento slip and fall attorneys will investigate your case and determine whether you are entitled to compensation for the cost of medical care, for lost wages from time away from work, and other damages. Please contact us today to find out more about how we can help.
