If you got hurt in a slip-and-fall accident, you’re likely dealing with costly medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses you never planned for. If someone else’s carelessness caused the accident, California law allows you to seek compensation for your financial losses and pain and suffering. Hiring a lawyer to handle your slip-and-fall claim could significantly improve your chances of recovering the money you deserve.
At the Law Offices of Pius Joseph, we believe in giving potential clients a complete understanding of how our legal services can benefit their claims. A personal injury attorney from our firm can help by:
Explaining Your Rights and California Slip-and Fall-Laws
You don’t necessarily have to pay out of pocket for your medical expenses after a slip and fall. If someone else’s negligence harmed you, you can pursue compensation from the at-fault party, whether it was a negligent business owner, homeowner, landlord, or another entity.
Most slip-and-fall claims fall under the umbrella of premises liability law, a specific type of personal injury claim that allows those injured on other people’s property to hold the owner accountable for the preventable harm they suffered. However, you aren’t guaranteed money just because you fell. An experienced attorney can answer your questions, evaluate your case, and determine if you have a slip-and-fall claim.
Investigating and Gathering Evidence
In a slip-and-fall case, the burden is on you to demonstrate the responsible party’s negligence and how it led to your injuries. A slip-and-fall lawyer has the resources and skill to investigate your case and collect evidence to support your claim. Examples of potential evidence might include photos of the accident scene, maintenance records, eyewitness testimony, incident reports, and expert testimony from medical and financial professionals.
Proving Liability
You must prove a property owner or manager was negligent to win a slip-and-fall case. Landowners must take reasonable measures to protect visitors from potentially hazardous conditions on the premises, such as slippery floors, cracked walkways, poor lighting, and defective stairways. If a property owner fails to eliminate, fix, or warn you of a hazardous condition that contributes to an accident, the property owner could be liable for any resulting injuries.
But providing liability also means beating any defenses the at-fault party might raise. For example, they may argue they didn’t know the dangerous condition existed or that you contributed to your injury somehow. A knowledgeable slip-and-fall attorney can develop a smart legal strategy to stand up to any defense the opposing side throws your way.
Communicating and Negotiating with Insurance Companies
Securing compensation for a slip and fall claim will typically require negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurer. The last thing you need to do is deal with an insurance adjuster’s questions and negotiating tactics while you recover from your injuries. A personal injury lawyer can do it all for you. Your attorney will demand fair compensation and negotiate for a settlement that accounts for all of your current and future losses. If the insurance company fails to make a reasonable offer, your lawyer might advise filing a slip-and-fall lawsuit and litigating your case in court.
Contact an Experienced California Slip-and-Fall Attorney Today
Don’t hesitate to get legal advice from a Pasadena slip-and-fall lawyer at the Law Offices of Pius Joseph if you’ve been hurt. Call or contact us today for a free case review.
