One of the most popular questions we get is should i get a lawyer for a slip and fall in Los Angeles?
If you have slipped and fallen at a local store and have suffered injuries, you might wonder whether you should hire an attorney or try to negotiate with the store on your own.
Many people are injured in slip and fall accidents each year because of the NEGLIGENCE of others.
When you are in this type of situation, you should understand the factors and key issues of slip and fall cases to help you to determine whether you need to hire a personal injury attorney.
The Law Offices Of Gerald L. Marcus represents people who have suffered injuries in slip and fall accidents throughout Los Angeles and all of Southern California and will FIGHT to recover FULL compensation for your losses.
WHAT QUALIFIES AS A SLIP AND FALL CASE IN CALIFORNIA?
Many people slip, trip, and fall each year in their homes, in public, at other people’s homes, at work, and in businesses.
However, not every accident will qualify as a slip and fall claim. Some falls result solely from the victims’ carelessness and are not caused by the actions of others.
Within California personal injury law, slip and fall claims involve another party’s negligence.
The property owner or possessor must have negligently failed to meet the standard of care to maintain his or her premises in a reasonably safe condition, to promptly fix hazardous conditions, or to avoid causing dangerous conditions without proper signage and other safety measures.
COMMON CAUSES OF SLIP AND FALL ACCIDENTS IN CALIFORNIA
Slip and fall accidents are VERY common and can happen almost ANYWHERE.
While falls can be caused by many things, there are some common causes of slip-and-fall accidents.
Some of the most common causes include the following:
-Uneven surfaces
-Missing or loose handrails
-Inadequate lighting
-Broken steps
-Broken floor tiles
-Torn or bunched carpets
-Slippery floors
-Spills
-Broken sidewalks
-Accumulated ice
-Holes in parking lots
When a fall is caused by one of these types of issues, an experienced Los Angeles slip and fall attorney will know how to investigate the claim to identify the potentially liable parties.
COMMON INJURIES IN SLIP AND FALL ACCIDENTS
People can suffer from many different injuries when they fall. Falling can result in broken bones, lacerations, bruises, and head injuries.
Some of the types of injuries that are especially prevalent among the elderly are hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries.
Falling can also cause people to suffer psychological injuries. People may develop a fear of falling or of heights that affects their private lives.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HIRING A SLIP AND FALL ATTORNEY?
Businesses and insurance companies engage in numerous tactics to try to avoid liability in slip and fall claims.
Even if you think that the property owner’s liability is clear, these types of cases can require EXTENSIVE investigation and the help of experts.
It can be difficult to prove legal fault. Experienced personal injury lawyers who regularly handle slip and fall cases understand what is required to establish the property owners’ negligence.
If you try to settle your claim on your own, the insurance company will do everything that it can to take advantage of you!
Insurance companies and businesses often have teams of defense attorneys who are ready to VIGOROUSLY defend against premises liability claims.
An experienced slip and fall attorney understands the various tactics that defense attorneys and insurance companies frequently use.
This allows a plaintiff’s attorney to gather the evidence that is needed to support a finding of the property owner’s liability.
Once you have retained a slip and fall lawyer, one of the first steps that he or she will take is to establish a line of communication with the relevant insurance company.
Your lawyer will handle ALL of the investigation and communication for you so that you can concentrate on recovering from your injuries.
Some of the things that your attorney might do for you include the following:
-Investigating and photographing the accident site
-Filing reports with the appropriate authorities
-Filing motions for discovery and the preservation of evidence
-Determining what caused your fall to happen
-Gathering medical records that show a causal link between your fall and your accident
-Demonstrating the extent and severity of your resulting injuries through evidence
-Working with experts to show the extent of your losses and the liability of the defendant
-Gathering evidence to dispute any claims that you caused your accident and injuries
When you work with a lawyer, he or she can help you to determine the value of your claim so that you understand whether a settlement offer is reasonable or unfair.
SECURING COMPENSATION FOR SLIP AND FALL INJURIES IN CALIFORNIA
In some cases, insurance companies will send quick settlement offers to the victims of slip and fall accidents.
These offers are frequently low-ball offers that are extended by the companies because they want to minimize the amounts that they might otherwise have to pay.
An experienced slip and fall lawyer can properly value your claim so that you can understand whether an offer is unreasonably low.
He or she can also negotiate with the insurance company to secure compensation in an amount that FAIRLY compensates you for all of your losses.
THE LAW OFFICES OF GERALD L. MARCUS CAN HELP
Slip and fall accidents in Los Angeles can leave people suffering from serious injuries.
In some cases, they may result in deaths.
If you have suffered serious injuries or have lost a loved one in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property in Los Angeles or anywhere in Southern California, you NEED to call us today for a 100% FREE case evaluation at 818-784-8544.
Our Los Angeles slip and fall attorneys have successfully settled THOUSANDS of slip, trip and fall claims for our clients since 1987.
YOU PAY ABSOLUTELY NOTHING UP-FRONT SO YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BY CALLING US!
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