Slip-and-fall accident victims are often left with significant medical expenses, career-altering injuries, and other financial obstacles that lower their quality of life. While we all love shopping for home improvement gear at Lowe’s, they can still be held liable for allowing an unsafe environment, like a wet floor, causing serious injuries.
The amount a person can receive from a slip-and-fall hip injury settlement will be dependent on their medical costs, lost wages at work, and the extent of their injuries. To maximize your settlement, it is important to consult with an experienced Slip-and-Fall Lawyer about the best legal course of action for your situation.
Can I Sue Lowe’s for a Slip-and-Fall Wet Floor Injury?
Yes, you can sue Lowe’s if you sustain injuries from a slip-and-fall accident in one of their stores. However, to successfully pursue a lawsuit, you must prove Lowe’s was at fault for your accident. Proof requires:
- Demonstrating that Lowe’s had a duty of care to maintain a safe environment for its customers
- Lowe’s breached its duty of care
- Lowes’s breach directly caused your broken leg
An example of Lowe’s breaching its duty of care towards its customers would be if they knew about a wet floor and failed to take appropriate action to remedy it.
Is a Wet Floor a Premise Liability in California?
In California, premise liability occurs when an owner fails to maintain their property or warn of known danger and someone sustains injuries. In this case, the owner can be held responsible for the victim’s economic and non-economic damages. These damages include:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages (if you have to miss work to recover)
- Retraining or re-education for job placement if you have suffered a disability from the accident
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Under California Civil Code 1714, property owners are responsible for keeping their property free of hazardous conditions by performing routine inspections. They are required to repair, replace, or provide reasonable warning about unsafe property conditions to keep visitors safe.
Property owners who fail to repair dangerous conditions, or warn them, can be served with a premise liability lawsuit if someone gets injured as a direct result of their carelessness. So, for example, if a Lowe’s in California allows a wet floor to exist in their store and someone slips and gets injured, they can be found liable for creating a premises liability.
What Should I Do After a Slip-and-Fall Accident on a Wet Floor?
If you suffer an injury from a slip-and-fall accident on a wet floor, seek medical attention immediately. Nothing is more important than your health. Also, failing to seek medical attention after you’ve been injured can be harmful to your claim if you decide to file a lawsuit. After you get medical care, it is recommended to:
- Report the injury to management. Slip-and-fall accidents require a prompt investigation, especially if they occur at Lowe’s. Filing an injury report is most likely protocol. Reporting the injury will also help your case if you decide to file a premises liability claim against the property owner.
- Take your own photos of the scene and get witness statements. Hazardous conditions like a wet floor can be removed or remedied very quickly to prevent more accidents, so it is important for you to capture the dangerous environment while it is still there.
- Follow up on your injuries with a doctor. Any injuries you’ve sustained from your accident will become a part of your case and you will need a doctor to corroborate your injuries.
- Contact Maison Law to protect your rights to compensation. Most accident victims find themselves overwhelmed by the incident and fail to realize the enormous impact a serious injury can have on their lives. Our experienced attorneys can help you understand your legal options and get you the compensation you need to make a full recovery.
How Much Compensation Should I Ask for a Wet Floor Slip-and-Fall at Lowe’s Home Improvement?
You should always ask for more in a personal injury settlement. Making a settlement demand with the insurance is a negotiation and you should ask for 2 to 3 times more than you think your case is worth. This may seem high, but the insurance company will be making an initial settlement offer that is extremely low. So, it is wise to ask for an amount in a demand letter that is well above what you think you deserve.
A demand letter should be descriptive, factual, and truthful. A well-written demand letter can go a long way toward getting the compensation you want, which is why it is recommended to have a skilled Personal Injury Lawyer assist you with writing it. The details of the demand letter should contain:
- The time, date, and location of the accident
- The name of the person/company/government entity at fault, along with their contact information (if applicable)
- Details of the injuries you’ve sustained directly from the accident
- Summary of damages incurred, which include medical bills, lost wages, and non-economic damages
- Supporting documents, which may include X-rays, MRIs, and other photos or videos of the accident if you have them
Contact a Lowe’s Slip-and-Fall Accident Lawyer in California
If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip-and-fall accident at Lowe’s Home Improvement in California, the Personal Injury Attorneys at Maison Law can help. We understand Lowe’s is a giant corporation with teams of lawyers, but that does not excuse them from liability or from adhering to California law.
At Maison Law, no matter how big the opponent is, we will aggressively pursue the maximum amount of damages on their behalf. So, take legal action and contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation. There is no upfront charge for our services and we don’t make a dime unless your case is won.
