Maison Law can help you when you’re injured in a slip-and-fall or any other type of premises liability accident in Hanford. When you think of all the different places you go everyday, you don’t think twice about walking. But all it takes is a wet floor, a broken step, or something else to leave you with injuries after you slip and fall. We can help you through it. Set up a free consultation today.
When a Lawyer Makes Sense After a Slip-and-Fall Accident
It sounds simple, but even a seemingly minor slip-and-fall can have far-reaching problems for you. What’s worse, these accidents can happen anywhere in Hanford, at virtually any time. With that said, though, you expect these places to be kept reasonably safe. That doesn’t always happen, and when you’re facing injuries and questions from an insurance company, it makes sense to talk to our team for help. We can:
- Walk you through your options so you understand them
- Get the photos, records, and other evidence needed to support your claim
- Figure out what caused your fall and who may have been responsible
- Deal with the insurance company so you don’t have to
- Take your case to court if that’s what it takes to get a fair result
While you focus on healing and getting back on your feet, we’ll handle the paperwork, phone calls, deadlines, and insurance issues. The goal is pretty simple: make the process easier for you and your family.
Where do Hanford Slip and Falls Take Place?
A slip and fall hazard can be anywhere, from a puddle of water to a two by four sticking out in the aisle. These hazards can exist in many different locations, and some of these areas are:
- Grocery Stores
- Malls
- Department Stores
- Public Walkways/Paths
- Sidewalks
- Government buildings
- Stairways
- Libraries
- Airports
- Sporting Events
- Schools
A lot of these accidents are preventable. Sometimes it’s as simple as cleaning up a spill, fixing a broken step, repairing uneven pavement, or putting up a warning sign. When property owners don’t take those basic steps, people can get hurt. That brings up a lot of questions, but initially, it’s about getting good information.
Information That Can Help Your Slip-and-Fall Claim
A slip-and-fall can catch you completely off guard. One minute you’re walking into a store or across a parking lot, and the next you’re on the ground trying to figure out what happened. Even still, your health comes first. Get medical help if you need it. Then, there’s something crucial you should do:
- Report the accident to someone in charge of the property. That gets the process started and alerts the owner or management to what happened and what may have caused your fall.
From there, the ball is in their court. But for your purposes, there are also a few things worth getting at the scene:
- Pictures or videos of whatever caused your fall before it gets cleaned up, repaired, or removed.
- Names and contact information for anyone who saw what happened.
After you get medical treatment, start keeping track of information that could help support your claim. You don’t have to gather everything yourself, but things like these can be important:
- An accident report from the store, restaurant, apartment complex, hotel, or other property where you fell.
- Medical records, including ER visits, doctor’s appointments, X-rays, prescriptions, and physical therapy.
- Surveillance footage from nearby cameras. This can be especially important because businesses don’t necessarily keep video forever.
- Your medical bills, receipts, and records showing missed work or other expenses.
- Your own notes about your pain, injuries, and how the accident is impacting your everyday life.
You don’t need to have everything figured out right away. Even a few pictures and your medical records can give you a good starting point. From there, the focus becomes figuring out what caused the fall and who was responsible.
Who’s Responsible for a Slip-and-Fall Accident?
A slip-and-fall is generally a premises liability claim, which means the big question is pretty simple:
- Who was responsible for keeping the property reasonably safe?
That could mean showing the property owner or manager:
- Knew about a dangerous condition and didn’t fix it, or
- Should have known about it and failed to do anything about it.
Usually, that means looking closely at the property owner or whoever was responsible for maintaining the area. But depending on what happened, other people or companies could be involved too, including:
- Employees who didn’t clean up a spill or respond to a reported hazard
- Landlords or property managers who ignored maintenance problems
- Maintenance or cleaning companies that created or failed to fix a dangerous condition
- Government agencies responsible for maintaining public property, depending on where the accident happened
California also follows comparative negligence rules. So even if someone argues that you were partly responsible for your fall, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t bring a claim. Your potential damages could simply be reduced based on your percentage of fault.
What Damages Can I Get After a Slip-and-Fall Accident?
When you’re hurt in a slip-and-fall, you’re probably not thinking about an injury claim right away. You’re thinking about your injuries and what you’re going to do next. But if someone else’s negligence caused your fall, you generally have the ability to get financial help for what you’re left with thorugh:
- An insurance claim
- A personal injury lawsuit
Many claims start with insurance. If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, a lawsuit may be the next step. Even then, many cases are resolved before they ever reach trial. Depending on your situation, you may be able to recover damages for:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Remember, there are deadlines in place. You only have two years from the date of the accident to file your claim, and if it happened on government property, that deadline is usually much shorter. Waiting can create other problems, too. Surveillance footage can disappear, witnesses can become harder to find, and dangerous conditions can be cleaned up or repaired.
Our Hanford Slip-and-Fall Lawyers Can Help You
A slip-and-fall can happen in a split second, but the injuries and problems that follow can stick around for a long time. You don’t have to deal with all of that on your own. Our Hanford slip-and-fall accident lawyers at Maison Law can help you understand your options, look into what caused your accident, and figure out whether someone else may be responsible. Set up a free consultation today to talk through what happened and what comes next.
