Slip and Fall Accidents
What is a “Slip and Fall” accident?
The term "slip and fall" refers to an accident injury that occurs when a person is injured as the result of slipping or tripping and falling due to a dangerous condition on someone else's property. Slip and fall accidents include falls or slips that occur due to water or other liquids, as well as defects in flooring and other hazards. Slip and fall accident injuries occur frequently and often result in serious injury or even death. A slip and fall lawsuit is based on the idea that the property owner was negligent in allowing the dangerous or hazardous condition to occur.
Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are the result of dangerous conditions on someone else’s property. Dangerous conditions may exist due to poor maintenance or faulty design. In particular, slip and fall accidents are often the result of slippery liquids or surfaces on the floors of businesses.
A slip and fall accident can occur almost anywhere, but they often occur in businesses, such as supermarkets or restaurants, where customers are exposed to hazards such as spilled liquids. Here in Las Vegas, slip and fall accidents often occur in casinos, where walkways are poorly maintained, or where floors are covered in slippery cleaning products. Flooring defects, poor lighting, and a failure to warn about certain hazards can all lead to slip and fall injuries.
“Trip and fall” accidents, in which the victim’s foot hits some sort of an obstacle, causing a fall, is closely related.
Slip and fall and trip and fall accidents often result in serious and lasting injuries. In order to make sure that your rights are protected, you should contact an experienced accident attorney following any slip and fall accident.
Protecting Yourself and Your Rights after a Slip and Fall Injury
Following a slip and fall injury, you must take certain steps to protect your health and your rights.
Gather evidence and report the accident
It is important to gather evidence to preserve your slip and fall accident claim. You should do this by taking pictures of the accident scene and identifying potential witnesses. Additionally, if you slip and fall in a place such as a restaurant or a casino, report the injury immediately and complete an incident report. This will help document the incident for a potential lawsuit.
Seek medical attention
Your health is of primary importance following a slip and fall injury. Accordingly, seek appropriate medical attention if you are the victim of a slip and fall accident. If your injury is severe and traumatic, seek emergency medical attention. It is important to note, however, that not all of your injuries from slip and fall accidents are always apparent immediately following the fall. Some injuries may not become obvious for several weeks after your accident.
Seeking immediate medical attention is important to your potential slip and fall claim. If you delay in seeking medical attention for your injuries, and are later able to bring a slip and fall accident claim, the insurance company defending the negligent party may claim that you are faking or exaggerating your claim. Accordingly, seeking medical attention is important to both your health and to your potential slip and fall lawsuit.
Talk to an attorney experienced with slip & fall cases
Following a slip and fall accident, it is important to begin pursuing your slip and fall lawsuit immediately. Contacting an aggressive accident litigator with experience handling slip and fall cases is vital, as your attorney will begin the investigation process immediately. In particular, it is important for your slip and fall attorney to seek recovery of any video footage of the slip and fall that may exist. If your slip and fall accident occurred in a casino or other public business establishment, such video evidence may exist. Accordingly, your attorney will need to take measures to ensure that any such evidence is preserved. Additionally, an experienced slip and fall attorney will locate appropriate witnesses and help you get the medical care you need. For all of these reasons, you must understand the importance of contacting an experienced accident attorney for your slip and fall accident claim.
