No Need To Be A “Fall Guy”: Los Angeles Slip and Fall Accidents
by: francis@mesriani.com
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Donald W. Callender, founder of the national restaurant chain Marie Callender's, died last January 2009 due to complications arising from a slip and fall accident.
Slip and fall accidents may seem frivolous and hardly worth the effort of getting medical and legal assistance but the numbers tell a different story on the magnitude of this issue.
In 2007, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that fatal falls in workplace had the all-time high of 835, there are actually a greater number of people who are slip and fall accident victims. In fact, the Center for Disease Control reported that there are over a million Americans who have slipped, tripped and fallen, with 17,000 casualties.
Slip and fall are the most common cause of injury producing accidents—it can happen anywhere from Los Angeles to New York and at any time, in your own home, in your place of work, in a grocery store, in the restroom of your favorite restaurant.
While the National Floor Safety Institute said that 55% of the slip and fall accidents are caused by the condition of the walking surface, slip, trip and fall accidents can occur in other ways:
• Slip and fall (Floors or walkways that are expected to be safe but is left covered with slippery materials such as grease, water or ice are the major cause of slip and fall accidents)
• Trip and fall (This normally occurs there are obstructions or objects are left haphazardly on the floor/walkway which should have been clear i.e. boxes left on dimly lit hallways)
• Step and fall (This happens when someone steps on an unseen hole or indentation, such as a manhole, a broken stair, and the like)
• Stump and fall (Uneven paths, thresholds higher than the floor, or objects dangerously jutting out of a walk or passageway may cause stump and fall accidents)
Injuries depend on the severity of the accident, minor slip and fall accidents can cause bruises, lacerations, broken bones. However, slip and fall accidents, such as falling from high levels can result in serious physical injury, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and even death. If victims survive grave slip and fall accidents, the damages incurred often require intensive medication and treatment.
However, slip and fall accident victims need not despair over the seemingly insurmountable odds of hospital expenses and recovery. Slip and fall accidents fall under the Premises liability—which is basically an area of law that holds the owner of the facility, building or property accountable, legally and financially responsible for injuries any person sustains while on their premises.
Under premises liability, slip and fall victims may recover monetary compensation for the injury they have suffered based on the negligence of the property owner. However, in a California premises liability claim, there are statutes and laws that apply before one can recover damages. Also, the negligence of the property owner must be established in order to build a strong case.
The injured person must establish:
(1) The existence of a duty on the part of the owner to use due care or maintain the premises;
(2) There is a breach of this legal duty or non-fulfillment of this responsibility.
(3) The breach or inaction of the owner of the premises has lead to the injury or is the proximate or legal cause of the resulting injury.
Thus, for Los Angeles slip and fall accidents, getting proper medical attention is the first step and hiring the services of a Los Angeles slip and fall attorney is the next step towards full recovery. After a fall, you need not be the fall guy for a property owner’s negligence.
About the Author
To help you deal with issues involved in slip and fall accidents, consult with our skilled Los Angeles slip and fall accident attorneys. Visit our website and avail of our free case analysis.
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