Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer Los Angeles
It can happen at any hour, any minute, any second; you're walking along when all of a sudden you hit the ground hard. It takes you a second to register what even happened. The embarrassment you feel causes you to quickly try to stand up, but you soon realize that something's wrong.
Unfortunately, scenarios like this play out all across the country on a daily basis. In fact, slip and fall accidents are responsible for countless injuries in Los Angeles every year, leaving victims dealing with everything from broken bones to spinal or head injuries. When you find yourself in such a scenario, get in touch with our qualified slip and fall lawyer in Los Angeles right away.
Slip and Fall Injuries
Statically, 1 in 3 adults age 65 or older falls each year, but less than half talk to their healthcare providers about it based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Furthermore, there are more than 33,000 people died from falls in 2015. Each year, over 8 million emergency room visits are due to slips, trips, and falls. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for adults age 65 and older.
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More than 33,000 people died from falls in 2015.
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The National Safety Council’s Odds of Dying list ranks falls as the 6th most likely cause of death, with the odds of dying as 1 in 127.
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Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries.
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Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal medically treated injuries in the U.S.
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Each year, over 8 million emergency room visits are due to slips, trips, and falls.
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Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for adults age 65 and older.
Falls at Work
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In 2016 there were 229,240 nonfatal cases involving falls, slips, trips; the lowest since 2014.
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In 2016 there were 849 fatal work-related falls, slips, and trips (in all sectors), with an increase every year since 2011 with 681.
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Services, wholesale, and retail trade industries account for 60 percent of slip and fall accidents.
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At 25 percent, slip and fall injuries are the most frequently reported work accidents.
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Falls are the primary cause of lost time at work.
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22 percent of falls result in more than 31 days of missed work.
Falls at Home
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50 percent of all accidental deaths at home are due to falls.
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Most falls occur on the same level, not from elevation (e.g., a ladder).
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Every year, 33 percent of people over the age of 65 will experience a fall.
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Between 20 percent and 30 percent of people experience an injury after falling, including lacerations, hip fractures, or head traumas.
Slip and Fall Categories
There are four generalized categories under which fall down accidents are grouped:
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Trip-and-fall: Where there is a foreign object in the walking path – like a stack of books in a walkway that is normally clear;
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Stump-and-fall: Where there is an impediment in the walking surface – like a power cord that runs between two cubicles that weren’t there previously;
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Step-and-fall: Where there is an unexpected failure or hole in the walking surface, such as a missing manhole cover or utility cover in the sidewalk;
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Slip-and-fall: In which the interface of the shoe and the floor fails – you slip and fall on someone’s wet or greasy floor, and there are no warning signs posted anywhere.
Causes of Slip-and-Falls
Most slip and fall accidents occur in a business setting. These events fall under the category of premise liability because they are generally caused by the business or property owner not adequately maintaining the area where the event occurred.
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Damaged walkways, driveways, or paths leading to the business. This includes sidewalks that have shifted and potholes in any of these areas.
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Unmarked danger zones. This includes failing to post wet floor signs, notifying the public of uneven pavement or flooring, or other dangerous areas to walk in.
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Stairways that have not been properly maintained. This includes missing or broken handrails and failure to put slip-resistant coverings on the stairs.
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Inadequate of missing lighting in walk areas and stairwells.
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Failure to remove snow and ice and treat ground accordingly to prevent it from becoming slippery once the snow and ice are removed.
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Failure to keep walkways free from debris or clutter, making it difficult to maneuver.
Slip and fall injuries should be taken very seriously. Anyone who has experienced a slip and fall should seek medical attention along with the expertise of our experienced slip and fall lawyer in Los Angeles, even if the injury seems minor. It is not uncommon for slip and falls to cause the following injuries:
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Concussion and/or traumatic brain injury. Any time that your head is hit, there is a potential for serious injury.
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Neck and spine injuries. Twisting while falling can lead to spine and neck injuries as well as the impact from hitting the ground.
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Damaged rotatory cuff and wrist and elbow injuries. Many people put their arms out when they fall to brace themselves. This can lead to serious injuries of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist.
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Damage to the tailbone and lower back. An abrupt fall can cause a hard landing on your tailbone and shock your lower spine.
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Twisted or broken ankles and displaced hip joints. Many falls cause damage to this area because of how the body twists when it slips.
Seek Medical Attention
The first thing on your mind after a slip and fall accident should be your well-being. If you have been seriously injured, it’s imperative to remain where you are and call for emergency medical assistance immediately. Do not attempt to stand up or move until help has arrived. If someone tries to help you up, politely tell them that you would rather wait until the professionals have arrived before attempting to move.
If you are not seriously injured, it’s still important to seek medical attention. Visit a doctor or emergency room immediately after leaving the scene of the accident–even if you do not believe you are badly hurt. Why? Symptoms of an injury may not appear for hours or days following an accident. If you wait until symptoms appear, it may be harder to treat your injuries. For this reason, it’s best to have a doctor examine you immediately following the accident so they can identify and treat injuries right away. Once you feel a bit better, it is of utmost significance to contact our proficient slip and fall lawyer in Los Angeles.
Report the Slip and Fall Accident
Before leaving the scene of the accident, find someone who is in charge of the premises so you can tell them what happened. But, it’s important to watch what you say when speaking to the manager or owner of the premises. Do not go into details about your condition or the amount of pain you are experiencing as a result of the fall. You should also avoid discussing anything that you were doing that could have contributed to the slip and fall. For example, if you were distracted by your phone when you slipped, leave this detail out when talking about the accident with the manager or owner.
Make sure to ask them to put the report in writing so you can have a copy. Hold onto this copy, so you have proof that the accident happened and that the premises were immediately made aware of it.
Document Evidence from the Scene of the Accident
Return to where the fall occurred and document as much evidence as possible before leaving. Take photographs of the exact location so you can prove that the floors were wet or that there was an obstacle in your path that caused your fall. It’s best to take photographs up close, and from afar so you can capture as much of the location as possible. All of these things will assist our slip and fall lawyer in Los Angeles in developing a solid case.
You will also need to take pictures of any visible injuries, such as cuts or bruises. It’s helpful to also take pictures of the clothing you were wearing at the time of the accident–especially your shoes. The defendant may argue that you fell as a result of your footwear or loose clothing, but these pictures can prove them wrong.
Look around the scene of the accident to see if there are any security cameras pointed in your direction. If you see any cameras, take pictures of them in case the premise owner destroys them and denies that they were ever there. You should also note the exact location of the cameras so you can request the footage.
Talk to Witnesses
There are usually plenty of people around when someone falls in the premises. If anyone saw you fall, it’s important to ask for their contact information before leaving the premises. Jot down their full names and phone numbers and ask them what they saw. Do not discuss your condition or the events leading up to the accident with these witnesses–keep the conversation short and sweet. Be sure to thank them for their help and let them know that an attorney may get in touch with them in the near future.
Seek Legal Representation
Contact our slip and fall lawyer in Los Angeles as soon as possible after leaving the scene of the accident. Be sure to find a personal injury attorney that has experience representing slip and fall victims. Slip and fall cases are complex, so you will need an attorney who has a history of winning compensation for their clients in these difficult cases.
Make sure your attorney has copies of all of the evidence you have gathered so far, including photos, witness statements, accident reports, and medical records. Then, explain what happened to your attorney in as much detail as possible. An attorney will need to know all of the facts in order to do their job.
Your attorney will then launch an investigation into the accident to determine who is liable. After liability is determined, your attorney can begin negotiating for compensation with the at-fault party’s insurance company. If the insurance company is unwilling to make a fair offer, your attorney has the option of filing a lawsuit and taking your case to court.
Have you been injured in a slip and fall accident? If you are, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, but recovering this compensation is never easy. Let our experienced personal injury attorneys go head-to-head with the at-fault party’s insurance company and fight tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
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Improper maintenance of walking and common areas
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Lack of Cleanliness on floors leading to slippery surfaces when mare wet
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Low traction flooring
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Uneven floors and surfaces
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Defective and damaged carpeting
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Failure to clean floors after water or food spillage
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Lack of staff training
Common injuries associated with slip and fall accidents are as follow:
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Traumatic Brain Injury
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Other head injuries and brain damage
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Spinal Cord Injuries
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Separated Shoulder
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Broken Limbs
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Fractured Pelvis
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Brain Hemorrhaging
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Internal Bleeding
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Facial lacerations
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Permanent Disfigurement
If you are a victim of such injured contact, our premises liability attorneys today at 1-424-256-9055.
Do I have a legitimate Slip and Fall Injury Claim?
While often overlooked in personal injury, slip and fall accidents often account for many of the most gruesome and catastrophic forms of injury or even death. Our expert slip and fall lawyer in Los Angeles understands that no one slip and fall case is the same; there are several factors in determining whether you have a legitimate slip and fall claim including:
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What was your purpose for being on the property
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What condition led to the slip and fall
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If you tripped of slipped on an object, was there a good explanation for the object to be there.
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Did the property owner know, or should have known about the dangerous condition
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How long the dangerous condition existed
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Did the property owner act reasonably
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Was there proper warning
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Were there other variables, such as improper lighting, which led to the slip and fall
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Were there any building or safety code violations
Premises Liability Victims Get Served
Slip and fall accidents can cause serious injuries—whether they’re triggered by slippery surfaces, defective construction, or other unsafe circumstances. An experienced slip and fall lawyer in Los Angeles can guide you on the validity of your incident.
If you have been or love one been injured on someone else’s property due to an owner’s negligence, our Los Angeles Slip and Fall Lawyers are here to get you the help you need. Fill out a free initial consultation form or call us for free at 1-424-256-9055.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Injuries
Too few slip and fall injury victims see their doctors about their accidents, or talk to an attorney. Sometimes, victims may feel embarrassed about a fall, or think the accident was their fault. Many of these accidents go unreported, even though they aren’t always the victim’s fault.
Some of the most common causes of slip and fall injuries include:
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Obstructions in walkways
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Unmarked changes in elevation
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Bad lighting
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Floors that are slippery from being recently cleaned, waxed, or polished
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Broken steps or platforms
If a property owner is at fault for your slip and fall accident, our legal team may be able to get you the compensation you need to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Supermarkets/Drugstores
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Albertsons
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Ralph’s
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Vons
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Rite Aid
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CVS
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Thrifty
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99 Cent Only
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Food 4 Less
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Jon’s Market
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Cardenas Market
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Vallarta Supermarket
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Superior Warehouse
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Liborio Market
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Corporate Retail Businesses
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Wal-Mart
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Target
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Home Depot
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McDonald’s
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Carl’s Jr.
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Lowe’s
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Westfield
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Denny’s
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Magic Mountain
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Marshall’s
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Big Lots
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Babies “R” Us
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Autozone
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Banana Republic (Gap)
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Cheesecake Factory
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Sizzler
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Chevron Mini-Mart
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Char-Broil
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AEG
Government Entities
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Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
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City of Los Angeles
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City of Palmdale
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City of Thousand Oaks
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City of Ontario
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Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
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Los Angeles Convention Center
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Los Angeles County Department of Animal Services
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City of Los Angeles – Dept. of Water and Power
We Fight To Recover Your Remedies
Based on the specifications of your case - the details of the accident, how severe your injury was, it is ultimately going to determine what you could be entitled to sustain based on your case. However, what you can be compensated for with the help of our unrivaled slip and fall lawyer in Los Angeles if your case prevails can often be put into several different categories.
The categories of compensation can include:
Medical bills: Should you win your case, you could be awarded compensation for medical bills you’ve had to pay as a result of your injury. This includes both past and future bills stemming from the injury, and can potentially cover expenses such as transport or in-home rehabilitation services.
Lost wages: Lost wages can be awarded if your injury has caused significant missed time at work, or has made you unable to perform your job. You could be entitled to even more lost wages if the injury leaves you permanently disabled and unable to find consistent work.
Pain and suffering: In some cases, the damages endured from physical pain and emotional suffering can be compensated to pay for therapy treatments.
Punitive damages: Punitive damages are awarded in more extreme cases, wherein the injury was caused by someone’s recklessness. They are awarded to try and dissuade the defendant and others from acting with that level of recklessness again.
No Recovery. No Pay.
Contact a Beverly Hills Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer to schedule a free, no-obligation initial case evaluation at 1-424-256-9055. Our Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer in Beverly Hills will help protect your rights. And remember, You Don’t Pay until You Win, or You Don’t Pay At All!
Lawyer Referral Service Los Angeles
If you are in need of a Los Angeles Slip and Fall Injury lawyer to help you get the appropriate compensation and medical care you deserve, you should contact a Slip and Fall Injury accident lawyer in Los Angeles today. Our experienced slip and fall lawyer in Los Angeles will help you overcome your Slip and Fall Injury or damage.
If you have any questions about the information provided above, please contact Legal Leaf. Legal Leaf is a Lawyer Referral that can provide you with a Slip and Fall Injury Attorney or law firm. If you do have any questions about a Slip and Fall Injury attorney in Los Angeles area please contacts us for a free Lawyer Referral to a Los Angeles Lawyer.
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