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.
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.
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.
A comprehensive lawsuit or settlement demand for a slip-and-fall in Phoenix, AZ can seek restitution for the full value of all accident-related losses, including those with objective economic value and those with subjective non-economic value. 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.
Going to your primary care physician, an urgent care clinic, or a hospital emergency room should be the first step anyone takes after getting hurt through a slip and fall in Phoenix, AZ. Even if everything seems fine at first, getting checked out can help determine whether any injuries have occurred that have not yet produced obvious symptoms, as well as ensure all injuries stemming from the incident are appropriately treated to minimize long-term harm.
Another important thing to do as soon as possible after getting hurt in a slip and fall is reporting the accident in writing to the owner(s) and/or manager(s) of the property where the accident occurred. This report should include all relevant details about how, where, and why the accident happened to the best of the injured party’s understanding, and both the landowner(s) and the injured party should keep paper copies of the report.
If possible, taking photos of the accident scene and getting contact information from eyewitnesses to a slip and fall can produce invaluable information for a personal injury attorney to use later on. Along similar lines, something virtually every slip and fall lawyer will recommend that injured people do after slip and fall incidents in Phoenix, AZ is to preserve the clothing and shoes they were wearing at the time of their accident.
Once their medical condition is stable, any slip and fall victim who intends to sue over their injuries later on should obtain a copy of their medical records and treatment history from the physician(s) who cared for their injuries. Likewise, they should make sure to keep copies of all documentation for out-of-pocket expenses related to their accident and ensuing injuries, such as medical bills, pay stubs to illustrate lost work income, and so on.
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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