When you visit a business, you expect that the business owners will keep the property maintained and safe for visitors. That’s not always the case. Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common types of personal injury cases, and in most cases the accidents are completely preventable. Some common conditions that lead to slip and fall or trip and fall accidents include wet floors, uneven surfaces, or holes in the property surface.
In all states, including California, if the owner of property is aware of a dangerous condition, but fails to do anything, the property owner can be held liable for any injuries suffered by visitors because of that condition. The property owner’s duties may vary depending on the legal status of the injured person, such as whether the visitor was a person invited on the property or a trespasser.
If you have been injured because of a slip or trip that resulted in a fall on a business’s property in San Francisco, you may be entitled to compensation for the costs of your medical treatment and other expenses, if you can prove that the business owner failed to take reasonable steps to prevent your accident. Some common examples of negligent behavior that results in accidents include a business owner failing to repair uneven surfaces, a business owner failing to provide adequate warnings about potential hazards such as wet floors, and a property owner being aware of a hole on the property but failing to take appropriate action.
If you have been injured in a fall on someone else’s property, there are steps you should take immediately. In many cases, the property owner may attempt to cover up the scene of the incident in order to avoid responsibility for the injuries. Because of that, victims should take pictures of the property immediately. This can prevent the property owner from making quick repairs or changing the scene. Victims of falls should also seek medical treatment immediately. If you leave the scene and only seek treatment after the fact, that can harm your case later. By seeking treatment immediately, you will have a record of the fall with authorities. You should also report the accident to the property owner right away. You do not need to have an in-depth conversation, but reporting the accident is critical. However, you should not sign anything. Finally, you should get the contact information for any eyewitnesses who saw the incident.
You can build a case against a property owner after a fall in a number of ways. You can prove the property owner was negligent with photos of the scene or through eyewitness testimony. Your medical records can be used to show that you were injured. You may have a copy of a police report or an incident report that the business made. Finally, you should keep anything that you were wearing at the time of the fall, such as clothes and shoes that were being worn. They should be stored and secured.
If you are able to prove that the property owner was negligent in failing to keep the property safe, you are entitled to damages. In most cases, you are entitled to the costs of your medical treatment, out-of-pocket expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Those expenses are almost always paid by the property owner’s insurance policy, so you shouldn’t feel any hesitation about asking for compensation if you have been injured because of someone else’s negligence.
If you have been injured by a fall on a business’s property, and you believe that you fell because of a dangerous condition on the property, you should speak with an attorney. An attorney can help you build your case. However, you should not wait long to make your decision – normally, cases become weaker with time, not stronger. In addition, time limits apply in personal injury cases.
If you have been injured in a slip and fall or trip and fall accident in the San Francisco area, call Micha Star Liberty, San Francisco premises liability attorney at Liberty Law at 510-645-1000. She can help. At Liberty Law, Micha Star Liberty believes that businesses with dangerous conditions on their property should be held accountable for injuries. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.
