Slip Trip and Fall

What to Do in the Immediate Aftermath of a Slip and Fall Injury

People who have slipped and fallen might not be sure what to do right after the accident happens. In fact,

People who have slipped and fallen might not be sure what to do right after the accident happens. In fact, they may want to get to a doctor right away, especially if they are bleeding or feel they have broken a bone, twisted an ankle, or otherwise hurt themselves.

Gather a Record of the Conditions and Your Injuries

While it’s very wise to go to a doctor as one of the first steps, because getting treatment is highly important for your health and recovery, you also need to make sure that you have a record of what occurred and have alerted the proper authorities. So don’t delay getting medical attention, but make sure that you have pictures or notes on what happened in the immediate aftermath.

Why? Well, if you want to recover damages legally for medical bills, lost wages, and more, the fact is, a court will need evidence of what happened. In fact, your doctor or hospital visit will be part of the evidence, because any doctor or hospital will keep records of your injuries and the treatment advised.

For the victim of a slip and fall accident to receive damages, the court must find the other party negligent. That means a party, such as a landlord or store owner, had a duty of care to keep a specific area safe, should have known if it had become unsafe, had enough time to make it safe, and didn’t.

The fact is, many negligent parties will try to argue that the party injured in a slip and fall caused it themselves. They may claim that an area, such as a broken sidewalk or slippery floor, wasn’t dangerous. They may argue that it was clearly marked or surrounded with cones indicating it wasn’t to be walked on.

And they may win, unless you have evidence.

What You Should Do After a Slip and Fall Accident

So here some steps to follow in the immediate aftermath of a slip and fall in California.

1. Take pictures of your injuries

Take pictures of your injuries with your smartphone. Bruises, cuts, torn clothing – anything that injured you and shows impact.

2. Take pictures of the area

Take pictures of the area where you slipped and fell, from all angles. Don’t wait until it is cleared away and cleaned up.

3. Get the contact information of any witnesses

If anyone saw you slip and fall or witnessed the area where you fell, get their contact information.

4. Contact the manager if it’s a retail establishment

If your slip and fall accident occurs in a retail establishment like a store or restaurant, contact the manager before you leave. The manager needs to know of the dangerous area. Also, a court might wonder if you leave without reporting it.

Slip and Fall Injury in the Los Angeles Area? Call Sean Salamati

Sean Salamati is an experienced slip and fall lawyer in southern California. Sean will fight for your rights if you have been hurt because of someone else’s negligence. Call today for a free consultation. We charge no fees unless we win money for you.

Additional Resources:

1. National Restaurant Association. Don’t Trip Up: Preventing Slips and Falls. https://www.restaurant.org/Manage-My-Restaurant/Operations/Back-of-House/Dont-trip-up-Preventing-slips-and-falls
2. National Safety Council. Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention Training. https://www.nsc.org/safety-training/workplace/slips-trips-and-falls

Most Common Places for Slip and Falls

In the movies, someone slipping on a banana peel is a time-tested laugh-getter. In real life, slipping and falling can

In the movies, someone slipping on a banana peel is a time-tested laugh-getter. In real life, slipping and falling can be serious indeed. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 33,381 people died as a result of unintentional falls last year. Each year, 25% of people over the age of 65 fall. Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and death in workplaces like construction sites.

The consequences of slipping and falling can range from a twisted ankle to spinal cord or head injuries that can impair functioning and mobility for the rest of one’s life.

It stands to reason that people need to be careful about slipping and falling. But where do slips and falls mostly commonly take place? Here are four places where slip and fall accidents are most frequent.

1. Sidewalks

Sidewalks are built to facilitate safe walking. Unfortunately, sidewalks that are not well maintained may develop cracks and may deteriorate, making walking dangerous. Weeds can even start poking through the sidewalk, which will cause it to crack even more. It’s easy to turn an ankle on a poorly maintained sidewalk.

2. Wet floors in stores and restaurants

Wet floors can easily cause patrons of stores and restaurants to slip and fall. In stores, wet floors can be caused by slipped liquid from a product — or even from someone’s spilled water bottle. In restaurants, servers or patrons may inadvertently spill beverages. Cleaning such as mopping or waxing will also make a floor wet.

Store managers and employees should move to place warning cones around a wet floor, and should clean up the area quickly.

3. Workplaces

Slips and falls are frequent in workplaces. On construction sites, for example, workers frequently are employed at high altitudes and walls or stairs that might make falling impossible in a finished building may not yet be completed.

Poorly maintained workplaces where floors are piled high with equipment, boxes, or even debris can also cause slip and fall accidents.

4. Stairs, Escalators, and Elevators

Areas where movement from one story to another take place are frequent sites of slip and fall accidents. Stairs that are poorly maintained, lack bannisters, or have old or torn carpet can be especially dangerous. So can escalators that have been shut down — if they start abruptly again, people can be caught or thrown as they try to climb up. Similarly, elevators that have stopped and then start again can cause a fall to passengers.

When You Need a Slip and Fall Lawyer in Southern California

California law is very clear on premises liability. Property owners are responsible for maintaining the safety of their buildings and grounds. If an area is dangerous, or if they should have known it was dangerous, they must fix the unsafe condition. Failure to do so is negligence, and a court can find them responsible for accidents that happen in the Los Angeles area due to lack of reasonably safe conditions.

If you feel you or a loved one was the victim of a slip and fall due to the negligence of another, please call experienced Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer Sean Salamati today. There is no charge to you for an initial consultation, and you owe us no money unless we win money for you.

Additional Resources:

1. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Workplace Solutions. Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls in Wholesale and Retail Trade Establishments. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2013-100/pdfs/2013-100.pdf
2. United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. Accidents or Unintentional Injuries. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/accidental-injury.htm

Wet Surface Falls & Resulting Injuries

A slip and fall accident, when caused by a property owner’s negligence, can give rise to a viable claim for

A slip and fall accident, when caused by a property owner’s negligence, can give rise to a viable claim for compensation. Wet surfaces are one of the greatest risks for a serious slip and fall injury.  According to the National Floor Safety Institute, wet or slippery surfaces account for the majority of fall accidents in the United States.

Given that many victims of such accidents sustain broken bones, traumatic brain jury, spinal cord damage, torn ligaments and other debilitating harm, it’s no wonder that these cases settle for high dollar amounts – often reaching six and seven figures.

Wet flooring surfaces, whether inside or outside of a building, are a hazardous condition that should be addressed immediately by property owners or managers. At the very minimum, guests should be made aware of unsafe conditions with a yellow warning sign or barred from walking on certain areas where slick surfaces are present. Property managers are also expected to place floor mats or anti-skid rugs where wet or slippery surfaces may exist. When this duty to use reasonable care is breached, and physical harm results, victims may be eligible to sue for monetary damages.

In order to protect your rights, it’s imperative to align yourself with a qualified slip and fall lawyer as soon as possible. The legal team at Salamati Law has extensive experience handling premises liability claims in California, and works tirelessly to achieve maximum compensation for our clients.

Substantial fall injuries result in higher legal payouts

Fall injuries are not only painful to endure, they can be incredibly expensive. From hospitalization and doctor’s appointments, to surgery and long-term care, these injuries can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, putting a huge burden on victims and their loved ones.

Settlements will take into account not only past and ongoing medical bills, but pain and emotional suffering, lost income, and damages such as loss of consortium and loss of enjoyment of life. Historically speaking, wet surface fall accidents resulting in spinal cord injury, paralysis, skull fractures and brain damage have been some of the highest paying claims.

The Los Angeles-based Salamati Law office is committed to helping fall injury victims receive justice. Our firm boasts a stellar reputation for aggressive advocacy and has procured major settlements in complex slip and fall cases.

Through thorough investigations that uncover the truth and pinpoint liability, our attorneys can help victims and their families hold negligent property owners responsible. A successful personal injury claim can seek money damages that adequately reflect the pain, suffering and financial losses endured.

Causes of slippery surfaces and common defenses

Slippery and wet floors are often caused by:

• Rain that falls into a doorway or is tracked inside
• Waxing, polishing or mopping
• Cleaning agents that accidentally spill on the floor
• Naturally slick flooring surfaces such as marble
• Spilled liquids that aren’t cleaned up

Property owners can be held accountable in a court of law if it is proven that they knew or should have known about a hazardous condition (i.e. a wet or slippery floor) or caused the dangerous condition and did nothing to remedy or address the situation.  Whether the slip and fall accident happened at a commercial property or a private home, there are several defenses that may be raised. These include:

• Assumption of risk – the injured plaintiff was aware of a potential falling risk, as it was obvious, but voluntarily took this risk anyway
• There was no breach of duty – the defendant may argue that they were not aware of a spilled liquid (or other condition that caused a wet surface)
• Comparative negligence – the injured plaintiff bears some responsibility for the accident. For example, they were texting while walking and did not notice the “wet floor” sign

Superior legal representation in California

Your choice of slip and fall attorney can mean the difference between a successful insurance settlement or having no compensation for your injuries, lost wages and medical bills. When your health and livelihood are at stake, put your trust in Sean Salamati.

Call today for a free case evaluation and discuss your claim with a veteran slip and fall lawyer in Los Angeles.

Additional Resources on Wet Floor Slip and Fall Injuries: 

1. University of Wisconsin, Accident Prevention: Slips, Trips and Falls http://www.uwosh.edu/ehs/campus-health-and-safety/general-safety/occupational-safety/accident-prevention-slips-trips-and-falls
2. GuideOneInsurance, Wet Surface Slip and Fall Prevention https://www.guideone.com/safety-resources/slips-and-falls-prevention-wet-surfaces

Common Types of Slip & Fall Accidents

Every year in America thousands of painful injuries are caused by slip and fall accidents. According to national figures, such

Every year in America thousands of painful injuries are caused by slip and fall accidents. According to national figures, such incidents account for more than 20 percent of all spinal cord injuries and 15 percent of all accidental fatalities in the United States. Like other injury-producing accidents in public and workplace environments, many slip, trips and falls are preventable.

Accidental falls are the third leading cause of accidental death in our country, and the number one cause of serious injury and death in the elderly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Below are some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents.

Floor Hazards

Slippery or wet surfaces are responsible for countless falls each year. Other floor hazards include:

• Uneven pavement or sidewalks
• Loose or torn rugs, floorboards, carpeting or mats
• Spilled liquids
• Ice or snow that hasn’t been salted or removed
• Clutter, trash or debris on the floor
• Recently waxed or mopped floors

Structural Hazards

Traumatic injuries, ranging from broken bones and torn ligaments to paralysis can be traced back to tripping hazards caused by:

• Poorly constructed or rundown stairs
• Loose tiles
• Lack of handrails on steps and ramps
• Loose or defective handrails
• Cracked cement
• Potholes in parking lots

Liability issues in slip and fall accidents

All property owners and caretakers have a duty to use reasonable care to keep their premises safe for patrons, employees and invited visitors. When business owners, employers and managers fail to maintain their property or fail to warn customers and hired staff about potential slip and fall dangers such as a spilled liquid or a recently waxed floor, they may be held liable for any ensuing damages.

In California, it is the proprietor’s duty to perform routine inspections and maintenance and warn guests and visitors of any on-site dangers.  This holds especially true for health care providers and administrators in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, where senior residents are more prone to debilitating injury.

Some 25 percent of nursing home falls are attributed to environmental hazards, including poor lighting, slick floor surfaces and clutter left about.

California premises liability lawyer

Whether a slip and fall accident occurred in a nursing home, movie theater, at a neighbor’s house or in the workplace, victims may have a legal claim for compensation. The Salamati Law Firm understands the financial burdens and emotional toll of serious personal injury and has the expertise and resources to help victims obtain justice and the money damages they deserve. A successful claim can secure compensation for past and future medical bills, lost income, rehabilitation, pain, suffering and permanent disability.

For a free case evaluation with a Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer who is dedicated to client success, please call 1-855-476-1115.

Additional Slip and Fall Accident Resources:

1. CDC, Falls are leading cause of injury and death in older Americans https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/p0922-older-adult-falls.html
2. National Floor Safety Institute, Slip & Fall Quick Facts, https://nfsi.org/nfsi-research/quick-facts/
3. National Safety Council, Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention will Keep Older Adults Safe and Independent http://www.nsc.org/safety_home/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/Pages/Falls.aspx