What to Know About Slip and Fall Lawsuits

Understanding Slip and Fall Accidents and Liability

Slip and fall accidents are very common, according to one of the best personal injury lawyer Las Vegas residents trust. A neighbor misses a patch of ice on their sidewalk leading to a fall or someone spills a bottle of detergent in the grocery store aisle. When the slip and fall is caused due to negligence or carelessness of someone else, they may be liable for your injuries. It can be difficult to prove liability in a slip and fall. You must be able to prove who was liable, that their negligence caused your injury and that an injury did occur.

Types of Slip and Fall Injuries

A Las Vegas injury law firm says there are several types of slip and fall injuries that can be attributed to liability. A pothole or uneven walking surface on a property that has been there for some time that results in a slip and fall injury could mean the property owner is liable. The property owner could also be liable if a hazardous substance, such as a patch of ice, is left in an area where people will need to travel.

Proving Negligence and Liability

When discussing slip and fall accidents, the word reasonable is often used. In order for someone to be considered negligent, they must have failed to act as a reasonably prudent person would under the same circumstances. Some of the questions that must be answered include whether the person responsible had a policy of routinely checking for hazards and was there a log that could be checked after the accident. In addition, the courts will want to know if there was justification for creating a hazard and could that hazard have been made less dangerous by either relocating it, providing warning signs or preventing access. The person responsible for the injury must also have been aware of the hazard, or the hazard existed long enough that the owner should have known about the hazard. For example, if a water bottle was spilled in the grocery store aisle just before you turned the corner and slipped on it, the grocery store probably will not be found negligent as they would have had no way of knowing there was a spill.

Injured Responsibility

In some states, if you were at all responsible for your injury, you may not be able to collect damages or you may be provided a reduced settlement based on what percentage you were at fault. If you were talking on your cell phone and stepped into a pothole, even though the pothole actually caused your injury, you could be found partially or completely at fault because you were not paying attention. If there were warning signs posted that you ignored or if you were in an area you should not have been, your settlement could be reduced.

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, you should discuss your case with an attorney. You can schedule a no-obligation appointment with the best personal injury lawyer Las Vegas by completing the easy form online, give us a call or send an email to learn more.