Slip and fall injuries are much more common than most people would think, and despite the negative connotation that is often attached to this sort of legal claim, the fact is that the injuries that result from these occurrences are often extremely serious, and victims can really benefit from assistance from slip and fall lawyers.
Thousands of people are severely injured or killed every year in slip-and-fall situations, and if this has happened to you, you’ll need the help of experienced Phoenix, AZ slip-and-fall lawyers like the skilled personal injury attorneys at Phillips Law Group.
Below you’ll find information regarding relevant statistics regarding slip and fall cases, the different types of scenarios in which slip and fall accidents can occur, and get a look at the negligence standards that apply to those who possess the property in question. Finally, you can see how you should proceed if you or someone you love has been injured in an Arizona slip-and-fall accident.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
According to the National Floor Safety Institute, falls are the leading cause of injuries requiring emergency room visits—specifically, more than eight million visits yearly, representing more than 21 percent of all visits. Slips and falls, in particular, are responsible for about 12 percent of those injuries, meaning that over a million people get injured nationwide each year in accidents that can usually be traced back to a specific property owner’s negligence.
Of course, a wet floor that is not marked with a sign is a common and fairly straightforward cause of incidents like this, but slips and trips can also be caused by everything from loose or broken flooring to insufficient lighting to a walking area simply being a bit too cluttered and unkempt. The kind of injuries that can result from this sort of accident also vary greatly, from relatively minor bruises, cuts, and soft-tissue injuries to life-altering bone fractures, brain injuries, and spinal cord trauma, which may result in permanent paralysis. Fortunately, a seasoned Phoenix, AZ slip and fall attorney can help seek fair financial recovery for all of these.
Holding a Landowner Liable for Hazardous Property Conditions
Importantly, the fact that a slipping or tripping accident happens on someone else’s property does not automatically make the property owner liable for ensuing damages. Instead, the main factors determining liability in this sort of case are what duty of care the landowner owed to the injured person and whether that landowner breached their duty in a way that directly led to an otherwise preventable injury.
Broadly speaking, property owners in Arizona have no implicit or explicit legal obligation to protect illegal trespassers from sustaining accidental injuries on their land, with a few notable exceptions that a legal professional can explain in more detail if necessary. For lawful visitors, though, owners are expected to provide advance warning of hazards they already know about and to either fix or cordon off hazards reasonably soon after discovering them.
Additionally, if a lawful visitor’s presence on the landowner’s property provides some kind of financial benefit to that landowner, they also have a duty to inspect their property regularly to discover new hazards reasonably quickly after they manifest. This, in a nutshell, is why it is sometimes possible to sue over hazards that cause slips and falls, even if the property owner had no actual knowledge that the hazard in question existed at all. A Phoenix attorney can help someone who was hurt in a slip and fall accident determine what duty of care they were owed.
Recovering Fair Compensation Within Filing Deadlines
A comprehensive lawsuit or settlement demand over a slip and fall in Phoenix, AZ can seek restitution for the full value of all accident-related losses, including those with objective economic values and losses with subjective non-economic values. It is also possible to recover for both past and future losses relative to when the legal process actually begins. For example, both the costs of emergency medical treatment received immediately after a slip and fall accident and the expected costs of future rehabilitative care that will be needed in the months and years to come can be included in a settlement demand.
No matter how or why an accident like this happens, though, Arizona state law generally prohibits lawsuits from beginning more than two years after the accident actually happened in the first place. This should emphasize just how important it is to contact a slip and fall lawyer in Phoenix, AZ as soon as possible after suffering an injury on someone else’s property.
Do Not Delay in Contacting a Phoenix, AZ Slip and Fall Attorney
If you or your loved one has recently suffered a slip-and-fall accident, you may be feeling overwhelmed by your change in circumstances. Perhaps mounting medical bills, increased physical pain, and the inability to return to work may be causing you great distress.
Be assured, you don’t have to suffer alone. The personal injury attorneys of Phillips Law Group can use their years of experience to help you recover the cost of your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Our law firm has successfully helped clients receive compensation for damages for over 25 years. We can help you, too – get in touch with us to find out how. Call our law firm today at (602) 222-2222 for a free consultation with a Phoenix, AZ slip and fall lawyer!
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