Laguna Niguel Slip & Fall Attorneys
Slip-and-fall accidents have the potential to result in serious injuries that may require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. The experienced Laguna Niguel slip-and-fall lawyers of Bisnar Chase can help prove fault and liability in slip-and-fall cases.
Our personal injury attorneys have more than four decades of experience representing the rights of accident victims and their families. To find out how we can help you seek and obtain fair compensation for your losses, please contact our offices to schedule your free consultation.
Call 949-203-3814 to speak to a top-notch legal team expert.
What Does the Term Premise Liability Mean?
Premise liability is a term used amongst personal injury victims that states that a person experienced great pain and suffering due to a property owners' negligence. Make note that just because you were injured on someone else's property does not mean that the owner of the premises is to blame for injuries of slip and falls such as broken bones or a brain injury.
At times liability may fall on the caretaker of that property such as a store manager.
In order to prove that there was carelessness on the part of the property owner, it needs to be proven that the owner knew about the problem and did not take measures to rectify the problem.
Different types of premise liability claims can include:
- Amusement park incidents
- Fires
- Swimming pool accidents
- Flooding
- Elevator or escalator accidents
- Snow or rain accidents
- Unstable staircase accidents
Where do Slip and Falls Usually Occur?
Many establishments aim to prevent any premise liability incidents due to the number of fees that can accumulate from a lawsuit and the business's credibility could be jeopardized. No matter the fact, property owners are accountable for injuries that take place on their property. There are various kinds of businesses and locations where slip and fall accidents commonly take place.
Slip and falls usually take place at:
Department or Grocery Stores: Research has indicated that over eight million people in one year have been admitted to the emergency room due to slip and falls. It is the duty of the store manager or supervisor to make sure customers are safe while shopping. Department stores can be held liable for slip and falls, for example, a puddle of water was water leaking from a fridge and the supervisor was informed. If the supervisor was informed and did not take measures to clean up the puddle or merely put a "caution” sign, then the supervisor actions could be negligent. Common slip and fall locations that occur in a store are at the entrance of the store or a place in the store that has poor lighting.
Slippery Parking Lots: Property owners have the responsibility to make sure through harsh weather conditions, clients can proceed through a parking lot safely. Parking lots are to be cleared of excess snow or puddles of water to prevent customer injuries. The Natural Accumulation law reinforces that property managers should properly obtain the area in which they own. If there were precautions a customer could have taken to be safe in ice or slippery surfaces, and they fell because of their own failure to be safe then this can reduce the amount that is obtained in a settlement.
Construction Sites: Liability for construction site slip and fall injuries can either belong to the construction site owner or the supervisor of the construction site. Poor judgment on the supervisor's end can lead to a construction worker filing a claim for an injury. Workers who have experienced this type of slip and fall can also file for workers compensation. If the employer refuses to compensate for the injury and blames the incident on the worker, the employee has a right to explore their legal options.
Property owners can prevent slip-and-fall accidents by staying on top of the hazardous conditions on their premises. Workers should immediately clean up wet areas, signs should be put up around hazardous conditions and damaged areas should be repaired as soon as possible. Pedestrians can help prevent such accidents by remaining attentive. However, when a slip-trip-and-fall accident occurs as a result of someone else's negligence, it is important that you protect your rights from a personal injury lawyer.
Laguna Niguel Indoor Slip-and-Fall Accidents
There are many hazardous conditions that can result in a slip-and-fall accident. A few of the most common causes of indoor slip-and-fall accidents include:
- Spilled liquids: Wet floors can result in sudden and violent falls. It is the responsibility of property owners and managers to act quickly to clean up slick areas. Were the wet conditions reported to an employee? For how long did the property manager know about the wet floor before he or she had it cleaned up? Were visitors warned about the spill?
- Recently cleaned floor: Workers who have recently mopped a floor must post wet floor signs. Otherwise, pedestrians may walk over the wet conditions without knowing that they are in danger of slipping. Soap, wax and water are the cause of thousands of injuries each year. It is crucial that visitors and workers are aware of slippery walkways and hallways so that they can walk carefully or avoid the hazardous conditions altogether.
- Uneven floors: Some walkways are simply not safe. If not properly maintained, walkways, paths and hallways may become cracked or uneven. Individuals can trip or stumble over these types of conditions.
- Debris: It is easy to trip over debris. Boxes, papers, folders and items left lying on the floor or along hallways can cause individuals to trip and fall.
- Torn carpets: Bumps, tears and dips in a carpet can cause tripping accidents. These types of conditions should be repaired or covered right away.
- Poor lighting: Some falling accidents are the result of inadequate lighting. All areas that may have pedestrians should have substantial lighting. Pedestrians who cannot see the floor or what's on the floor are more likely to slip and fall.
- Dangerous stairs: Broken, cracked and wet staircases can be extremely dangerous. Staircases should have properly secured rails, and cracked steps need to be repaired right away.
Outdoor Slip-and-Fall Accidents
Falling accidents can occur outside as well. These types of incidents commonly involve damaged walkways. For example, a cracked sidewalk or pathway should be repaired right away. Poorly assembled and maintained paving stones can result in trip-and-fall accidents. Wet smooth sidewalks can result in slip-and-fall incidents. Sudden dips or rises can cause a pedestrian to lose his or her balance. Potholes, curbs, steps and areas where water collects should be clearly marked. All outdoor stairs should have sturdy railings capable of supporting pedestrians who need help getting up and down the steps. A failure to provide safe conditions outside a property is a form of negligence that can result in liability issues for the property owner. In cases involving public property or the public right-of-way, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the property can be held liable. Under California law, personal injury claims against governmental agencies must be filed within six months of the incident.
Proving liability in a slip-and-fall case can be a challenging process. It is important to understand what causes these types of accidents, which can happen anywhere at any time. Depending upon the circumstances of the incident, victims of premise liability accidents may be able to seek compensation for their losses when they hire a Laguna Niguel Slip and Fall Lawyer.
When you contact the law firm of Bisnar Chase you will receive a free case analysis. The Laguna Niguel slip and fall attorneys of Bisnar Chase believe that if there is no win there is no fee for personal injury cases.
Our lawyers have experience and have served the Los Angeles, Orange County and Inland Empire for over 40 years. We have won millions of dollars for injury victims who have been injured through dog bites, car accidents and have represented families who have also experienced a wrongful death.
Call us today at 949-203-3814 to get free legal advice.