Slip and Fall Cases

Slip and fall accidents can happen anytime and anywhere. They can be accompanied by severe and painful injuries that may have life changing implications. Slip and fall accidents can be caused by bad coincidence, but often they’re caused by negligence.

When walking on city sidewalks, through government property, or in commercial buildings, you expect a certain level of standards and safety. When building and property owners fail to uphold those standards, your safety can be compromised.

It is the duty of the property owner to remove or fix hazards like slippery floors, uneven walking surfaces, broken steps, dangerous debris, and other risk factors before innocent pedestrians have a chance to encounter these dangers. Even naturally occurring snow and ice can place responsibility on a property owner in some cases.

If you, a family member, or a loved one has sustained a slip and fall injury, contact the Missouri personal injury lawyers at The S.E. Farris Law Firm. Call 314-A-LAWYER (314-252-9937) for a free consultation.

Understanding Slip and Fall Accidents

“Slip and fall” is a personal injury term used to describe a situation in which a person injures himself or herself by slipping or tripping, and then falling while on someone else’s property. Slip and fall accidents are typically classified as “premises liability” cases, because these accidents usually happen on someone else’s “premises,” or property. The property owner may be legally responsible if a slip and fall accident occurs as a result of the owner’s negligence in allowing the dangerous hazard to exist.

Proving Fault in a Slip and Fall Case

It is often difficult to prove who was responsible for your slip and fall injury. If it was a result of your own carelessness, you can be found partially or completely at fault. However, if the accident occurred due to a “dangerous condition,” you may have grounds to file a premises liability lawsuit against the responsible party.

“A dangerous condition is a defect creating a substantial risk of injury when a property is used in a reasonably foreseeable manner,” according to USLegal.com. Additionally, you must establish that the property owner was aware of the dangerous condition by showing that the owner created the condition; knew of the condition but negligently failed to fix it; or the condition existed for a long enough time prior to your accident that the owner should have discovered and remedied it.

A qualified personal injury attorney will investigate your accident and help build your premises liability case, as well as identify the responsible parties whose negligence resulted in your slip and fall injury.

What to do After Your Slip and Fall

In the event of a slip and fall injury, the most important thing to consider is your personal health and safety. Seek medical treatment for any injuries immediately. If possible at the time, gather contact information for any people who may have witnessed your accident. Also, document the dangerous condition that caused your injury. A picture is worth a thousand words, and often is the difference between winning and losing your case. It is crucial to work quickly, as property owners may attempt to repair the dangerous condition.

If you have suffered injuries from a slip and fall case, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney will begin an immediate investigation into the case by collecting evidence, consulting with witnesses, and working with experts to gather the necessary evidence for your claim.

Contact a St. Louis Personal Injury Attorney

The St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers at The S.E. Farris Law Firm are experienced in slip and fall accidents, and premises liability cases. If you don’t have a valid claim, you can count on an honest assessment of the matter up front.  If the landowner was completely or even partially at fault, we will fight to get the compensation for your financial and personal losses, such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, or long-term care you deserve.

Call 314-A-LAWYER (314-252-9937) today for a free consultation. The time to pursue a claim against a negligent party in a slip and fall case is limited. If the responsible party is a governmental entity, such as the owner of a dangerous road or sidewalk, the time limits are extremely short to make your claim. It is important to contact an experienced Missouri personal injury attorney as soon as possible so that your rights are protected, and so an investigation into the circumstances surrounding your accident can be conducted.