Slip and fall injury lawsuits can result in significant financial compensation for the injured party, but how do you know if you have a valid case? Like with most personal injury lawsuits, a slip-and-fall case is built on a theory of negligence on behalf of the property owner.
If you want to pursue legal action against the owner of the property where your fall occurred, you must be able to show that they failed to act reasonably in protecting you from harm. A Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer from Salamati Law could help you make that case.
When trying to figure out if you have a valid slip-and-fall case, there are three things you need to prove.
1. Your Injury Must Have Occurred On Someone Else’s Property
If your slip and fall injury occurred on the property of another person, that party could be liable for your injuries. However, not every fall will result in a valid case for compensation. In order to recover a monetary award for your injuries, you will need to show that your fall resulted from a dangerous hazard on the property.
In addition to proving a dangerous hazard caused your fall, you must also be able to prove that the property owner had a legal duty to keep the premises safe.
2. A Property Owner Must be Liable for a Dangerous Condition
The property owner must also have had some form of notice about the dangerous hazard that caused your injury. That could mean that the property owner was aware of the hazard but failed to take reasonable steps to address it.
You might be entitled to financial compensation even if the property owner did not know about the fall hazard. This is possible in cases where the property owner should have known had they done their due diligence.
For example, a business owner should know that they must keep their walkways free from snow and ice. It is not a viable defense to willfully ignore threats to the visitors of your property under state law.
3. You Must Sustain Injuries or Damages
One of the key forms of proof that you have a valid slip and fall injury case is if you’ve suffered damages in the fall. Even if the owner’s negligence resulted in your fall, you are only entitled to compensation if you sustained injuries or property damage. Some of the damages you might be entitled to recover in these cases include the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Diminished future earning power
- Property damage
- Disfigurement
Talk to Salamati Law About Your Slip and Fall Case Today
If you have questions about the validity of your slip and fall injury case, you could benefit from the guidance of an experienced attorney. Hiring a lawyer to advocate for you could help you maximize your financial recovery after a fall. Reach out to Salamati Law as soon as possible for your free consultation.
