The term "slip and fall" refers to a specific category of personal injury case, which is essentially a slip or trip event that takes place on someone else's property. These situations are classified by the law as premises liability situations, a broad category. However, in order to make a claim, the sufferer must demonstrate that the slip and fall incident really did take place on another person's property. Here, the offender may be held vicariously liable for the mishap.

No matter how minor the accident, if you or someone you know has suffered any kind of injury as a result of a slip and fall, know that you have the right to compensation. The Los Angeles slip and fall attorney will be your guide to understand the whole process of claiming compensation. 

Usually to get compensation you have to gather evidence. The first step is to prove liability of the property owner. Then comes ascertaining the cause of the injury. It is important to prove that the property owner held the duty to maintain the property for avoiding the accident. Also many cases require proving negligence on the part of the property owner. Once your attorney and you gather enough evidence to prove liability, then comes the assessment of damage or extent of injuries. These are the basis to demand a justifiable settlement in slip and fall cases.

Understanding the common causes of slip and fall cases:

While sometimes getting an injury on someone else’s property can be truly by accident, there are also situations wherein the cause of accidents are avoidable. These avoidable causes in case of slip and fall cases are:

  • Wet or uneven surfaces

The locations having uneven walkways, wet flooring, or other surfaces are the most typical sites for slip and fall accidents. The following list of all potentially dangerous areas can support and support your case:

  • Cluttered surfaces
  • Ill-built staircases
  • Potholes (Sidewalks, roadways, parking lots) 
  • Carpet wearing-out
  • Floorboard defects
  • No warning signs at freshly-mopped floors
  • No warning signs for freshly-waxed floors
  • Wet flooring

  • Poor staff training

Slip and fall accidents frequently result from inadequate worker training in extremely hazardous areas, such as construction sites. To prevent workplace accidents, managers and employees must go through rigorous training. Certain standards must be easily accessible, particularly when it comes to appropriate site behaviour, tool and equipment usage, and other important safety measures. The accountability lies on the employers  for all damages when they lack in providing adequate training. Just by spending some time and money on proper staff training, situations of slip and fall cases can be completely at a bay.

  • Weather conditions

Despite the fact that weather is a naturally occurring phenomenon, some circumstances make walking surfaces dangerous. The expectation is that people will exercise caution because the cold and wet season, in particular, result in innumerable accidents and fatalities. Owners of businesses are nevertheless liable for their properties under the law. Owners of businesses are accountable for the following:

  • Sweeping and ice-making in the streets
  • Winterizing walkways with salt
  • Sweeping damp floors nonstop throughout the rainy season
  • Making mops and mats available to regulate water on surfaces

They will be held responsible for injuries if they fail to take these steps since weather-related negligence may be a strong defense.

  • Unkempt electrical wires

Public spaces need to be clean, but some communities struggle to keep other things under control. For instance, electrical lines and cords are a common source of trip and fall incidents worldwide. These careless wires tangle with the footwear or ankle, resulting in a slip and fall. The majority of these incidents happen because individuals can't see while walking, so it's important to keep public spaces as spotless as possible.

  • Non maintenance of handrails

Handrails are included next to sidewalks and stairwells because public places are intended to be as inclusive and convenient as possible. These are fastened to the walls and posts and provide support for walkers. However, most people have restroom mishaps, especially the elderly and the disabled. Unfortunately, most slip-and-fall accidents occur as a result of faulty handrails.

  • Poor lightning

People take uneven floors and a lack of support for granted, but they also neglect to consider inadequate illumination. This leads to slipping and falling incidents, particularly in aged office buildings and public spaces. In other words, owners have a legal obligation to make sure that every corner is adequately illuminated to improve vision, particularly at night. Owners must provide lighting for pathways, stairs, and other areas since any less will put people at risk for accidents.

Conclusion:

The slip and fall cases are mostly avoidable and occur merely due to negligence. But this negligent behavior causes severe head injuries, back injuries, hip fractures, sprains and other similar conditions. These injuries clearly cause mental stress, loss of income and takes a long while to recover. So demanding settlement in slip and fall cases is justifiable. In case you have been a part of any such accident or know someone else facing the damage due to slip and fall cases, make you hire an attorney with experience in this field. He or she will help you to win what is rightfully yours.