Northern California Slip and Fall Accident Causes
Causes of Northern California Premises Liability Accidents
Dangerous conditions that exist inside or outside a private home, apartment complex, commercial building, government building, construction site, nursing home, hospital or amusement park can cause a northern California slip and fall accident. Dangerous conditions may include:
Indoor Conditions
Conditions that can cause a slip and fall accident within the walls of a building, include wet and slippery floors, torn or damaged carpeting, cracked or uneven tiles, holes in the floor and inadequate lighting. Slip and fall accidents can also happen indoors if a landowner fails to warn others of dangerous conditions. For example, if a foreign object is placed on the floor that is not normally there (e.g. a stack of boxes in a walkway), the landowner must warn others of the potential danger.
Stair and Ramp Conditions
Stairs can pose a significant threat if they are not properly maintained or designed. Steps that are the same color as the surrounding floor, and unmarked, uneven, or insufficiently lit stairs also present a danger. Wheelchair ramps that are shoddily designed and constructed can also cause a serious slip and fall accident.
Outdoor Conditions
Snow, ice, potholes, cracks in a sidewalk, sudden dips or rises in the ground, poorly designed or maintained curbs and patios with missing mortar can contribute to a slip and fall accident occurring.
If you believe that your injuries were caused by an unsafe condition on a premise and would like to know if legal action is possible, contact a northern California slip and fall accident attorney. The northern California personal injury attorneys at Estey Bomberger can evaluate your case and establish if it is possible for you to recover economic and non-economic financial damages. Economic damages may include medical bills, lost wages and lost benefits. Non-economic damages provide compensation for the pain and suffering you have endured as a result of your injuries.
Dynamics of a Slip and Fall
Regardless of whether the accident took place indoors or outdoors, the dynamics of a slip and fall accident are usually similar in every case. Studies show that the majority of slip and fall accidents are “falls on the same level”, and not a fall from a higher elevation. The National Safety Council reports that same level falls account for 70 percent of all slip and fall, or trip and fall accidents nationwide. A same level fall takes place when there is no traction between a foot and the walking surface, which causes a person to lose their balance and fall. Another type of same level fall is the step and fall, which is caused by an unexpected hole or disturbance in the walking surface. Depending on his or her movement and if the push-off foot slips to the front or the back, a person can fall forwards, backwards or sideways in a same level fall.
Types of Slip and Fall Injuries
Slip and fall accidents can result in many serious injuries, including head injuries, spinal cord injuries, back injuries, knee injuries, shoulder injuries, lacerations, concussions and bone fracture injuries. Slip and fall accidents contribute to a large number of deaths in the United States as well.
Determining Liability for a Slip and Fall Accident
Once an injury has occurred on the premises of a property, it must be determined who was responsible for the injury. A property owner or occupier may be held financially liable for accident-related damages if the property owner knew of a potential hazard on the premises and failed to fix or repair it. Property owners may be liable if they failed to:
- Fix or maintain stairways, handrails, and steps
- Maintain walking surfaces in a reasonably safe condition.
- Provide safety signs or warnings that the floor is being cleaned, under repair or is wet and slippery.
- Quickly clean up spills of a foreign substance.
Right Representation for your Northern California Slip and Fall Claim
Unsafe conditions on someone else’s property are not your fault, nor are the injuries that were caused because of the unsafe condition. The northern California slip and fall accident lawyers at the law firm of Estey Bomberger understand the complexity of a slip and fall claim and know how to handle all aspects of the legal process. Our firm has dealt with many negligent or careless property owners and their insurance carriers, and will waste no time in taking the case to trial if a fair settlement cannot be reached. Our firm is AV rated - the highest rating a law firm can achieve for legal skills and ethics. Phone our office today at (800) 890-6722 to speak directly with one of our lawyers about your slip and fall claim.