It usually happens in the blink of an eye and it is one of the worst feelings in the world. You are walking along when one (or both) of your feet goes out from under you. You fight to regain your balance, but the effort is for naught. You hit the floor. Pain shoots through your body. You hope it passes. It doesn’t. Now what should you do? Keep reading to find out.
Assess your injuries and seek medical attention as soon as possible
First, take stock of your injuries. If you hit your head, blacked out, hurt your neck or back, or think you are seriously hurt, try not to move more than necessary. Assuming there were witnesses, ask one to call 9-1-1 and wait for help to arrive. If you can’t do it yourself, ask someone to notify an employee or manager of the premises about what happened. Even if you do not think you are badly hurt, it is still important to notify someone about the incident and see a doctor as soon as possible.
It is also important to document the scene as soon as possible after the accident. The best way to do this is to use your cell phone to take photos or ask someone else at the scene to do so for you. You can also use the voice recorder on your smartphone to record your observations of the scene and your version of events.
If possible, get the names and contact information for any witnesses. This will definitely help if you decide to seek legal advice
Contact a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer
Depending on the extent of your injuries, you may not think that talking to a slip and fall accident attorney is worthwhile. You may be worried that you can’t afford a lawyer, or that you don’t have a viable case.
The good news is most personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations. That’s the case here at the Law Office of Parag L. Amin, P.C. (LawPLA). During your free case assessment, we’ll get your side of the story and do a preliminary investigation based on the information you provide. Then we’ll let you know if you have any legal options, and if so, what they are. That way, you can make an informed decision about how to proceed.
Building a slip and fall injury case
The first step in building any personal injury case is determining who was legally responsible, or liable, for the accident in which our client was hurt.
Depending on the circumstances in a slip and fall accident that could be one or more persons. It could also be a municipality, a business or a management company. To establish liability under California law, we must be able to prove that the person(s), entity or business in question:
- Owns the property where the slip and fall accident occurred.
- Rents the property where the slip and fall accident occurred.
- Occupies the property where the slip and fall accident occurred.
- Otherwise controls the property where the slip and fall accident occurred.
Once we have established liability, we must be able to prove that the party or entity was reckless or careless in the operation and/or maintenance of the property. Specifically, we must be able to prove that a hazard on the property posed an unnecessary risk of injury and that the person responsible for the party knew or should have known about it. In addition to proving all of that, we have to prove that the responsible party did not fix the problem or provide adequate warning.
We must also be able to prove that this negligence caused or contributed to the accident in which our client was hurt. Finally, we must be able to prove that our client sustained physical injuries, financial losses, and/or non-economic losses as a result.
In a typical slip and fall case, our legal team relies on evidence such as witness statements, medical records, and expert analysis to bring the matter to a successful conclusion.
Our Los Angeles slip and fall injury attorney are here for you
If you or a loved one were injured in a slip and fall accident, you are not alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that more than 1 million Americans are injured in slip and fall accidents each year. In some cases, these accidents are simply due to bad luck. In some cases, other factors may be to blame.
In slip and fall accidents caused by negligence, having a knowledgeable attorney on your side is critical. At LawPLA, our lawyers have not only the knowledge and skill, but also the passion and determination necessary to fight for you. All you have to do is reach out to us through our website or by phone. Once you schedule your initial consultation, we’ll take it from there.
