River Park Shopping Center Slip-and-Falls

Fresno’s River Park Shopping Center is primarily an outdoor facility that consists of more than 75 retail stores, eateries and other businesses. Furthermore, it even has a farmer’s market on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s a great place to spend a few afternoon or evening hours. However, a hazard common to River Park or anyplace like it is the fact that you could become the victim of a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accident and suffer serious injuries. For example, below are a few common causes of those accidents:

• Parking lot holes and cracks.
• Spilled drinks or food on customer aisles.
• Water on washroom floors.
• Uneven or poorly maintained walking surfaces.
• Torn, worn or poorly secured carpeting.
• Display rack stands or electrical cables encroaching on customer aisles or common walking areas.
• Packaging or debris left in customer aisles.

The Duty of Care

Every owner or occupier of space in a shopping center has a duty to others who are lawfully on the premises to maintain their property in a condition that is free from defects that might cause injury to the public. If such a condition was known to or should have been known to an owner or occupier, and appropriate measures weren’t taken to remedy it before a person was injured by it, that owner or occupier could be held liable to compensate the injury victim for his or her injuries and damages. Those might consist of the following:

• Past and future medical bills.
• Past and future lost earnings or lost earning capacity.
• Any permanent disfigurement or disability.
• Loss of a normal life.
• Other valuable damages in the event of a wrongful death.

Common Slip-and-Fall and Trip-and-Fall Injuries

When a person slips and then falls, their front foot typically flies out in the air ahead of them, and he or she falls backward. However, if that person trips and falls, that front foot usually hits an obstruction, and he or she falls forward. Here are some common slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall injuries:

• Fractured skull with traumatic brain injury.
• Facial fractures with dental injuries.
• Neck and back injuries with spinal disc displacement or herniation with nerve impingement or damage.
• Fractures of the collarbone, arm, wrist, hip, leg or ankle.
• Torn cartilage, ligaments or tendons.
• Injuries to musculoskeletal tissue.

What to Do After a Shopping Center Fall

Try to take photos of the condition that caused you to fall and report your accident and injuries to management right away. Then, seek medical attention immediately. Additionally, if you need paramedics, contact 911 immediately. You’ll be taken to a nearby emergency room. Your paramedics will compile their own report, and emergency room personal will also write their report detailing your accident and injuries. These reports will be pivotal in pursuing compensation for your injuries and damages. Then, contact us at Maison Law to arrange for a free consultation with a Fresno slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall lawyer from our offices.

Don’t Give a Statement

A representative from the opposing insurance company might contact you and tell you that a written or recorded statement from you will be necessary to process your claim. Don’t fall for that, because California law doesn’t require you to give that insurer any type of a statement at all. That insurer’s representative is only trying to lull you into a false sense of security in order to be able to misstate the facts of the case in the future in effort to devalue your claim. No matter how that individual tries to intimidate you, don’t give a statement. If you’re told that your claim will be closed without a statement, let him or her close it. We know how to have it opened again with a stern phone call or a letter.

After a slip-and-fall or trip-and fall at any shopping center or mall in or around Fresno, preserve and protect your rights by contacting Maison Law right away. Upon being retained to represent you, our objective will be to pursue the maximum settlement or award that you deserve.