Posted on Monday, January 2nd, 2017 at 5:32 am
Slip and fall accidents are more common than you might believe and falls can result in serious injuries. Below are several common causes of slip and fall accidents in Sacramento.
Problems with Flooring or Surfaces
One of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents is the surface or the flooring. You can fall on a torn rug, broken step, crack in the pavement, or slippery surface. If a surface becomes wet due to a leak or a spill, someone can easily fall and be hurt. Property owners must take precautions to ensure that surfaces are dry, maintained, and free from clutter to reduce the risk of a slip and fall accident.
Footwear
The shoes you wear can increase your risk for a slip and fall accident. Wearing flip-flops, high heels, or slipper-soled shoes can be dangerous, especially in certain types of weather or other conditions. Think about where you will be walking and under what conditions as you choose your footwear for the day. However, don’t assume that your choice of footwear absolves the property owner’s duty to provide a safe environment. Footwear does not completely void the owner’s responsibility under a premises liability claim.
Nursing Home or Hospital Neglect
Another common reason for slip and fall accidents is neglect in nursing homes, hospitals, and assisted living facilities. The elderly and patients being treated for some medical conditions are at a higher risk for falls. If the staff doesn’t properly monitor these individuals, they can fall and seriously injure themselves.
What to Do If You Are Injured in A Fall?
Under California Sacramento premises liability law, a property owner must take reasonable care to ensure the premises are safe for others. If a person falls, the property owner can be held liable for damages, including but not limited to:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income
- Physical therapy
- Medical equipment
- Mental stress
- Physical pain
- Other out-of-pocket expenses related to the injury
However, you must prove the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition and did nothing to remedy the situation or warn you of the risk. An experienced Sacramento premises liability attorney can help you gather the evidence you need to prove the property owner is liable and collect compensation for your injuries.
If you experience a fall, you need to report the fall to the property owner, manager, or another responsible party immediately. Call for medical assistance or see your doctor as soon as possible to document your injuries. Taking pictures of the accident scene at the time of the fall can also be very helpful in proving the conditions that existed at the time of your fall. Also, ask for the names and contact information for any eyewitnesses so your attorney can take their statements while the information is fresh on their minds.
Lastly, preserve the clothing and shoes you were wearing at the time of the accident. Your attorney may need these as evidence in your case. The quicker you contact a Sacramento slip and fall attorney, the better. We need to begin working on your case to preserve evidence we need to protect your claim.
Call A Sacramento Slip and Fall Attorney
If you have been injured in a fall, we want to help. Call the Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000 or by chatting with a representative on our website to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and case evaluation with a Sacramento slip and fall attorney. Please don’t delay. You have a limited time to file an injury claim under California’s statute of limitations. Therefore, call today for your free appointment.
