There are times when everyone slips, falls and injures themselves. This usually occurs when we don’t see a patch of ice on the sidewalk, or the floors in our house are too slippery. When slip and fall on someone else’s property, such as a grocery store, or on the job, and it was caused by a hazard, you may consider contacting a personal injury attorney in Washington, D.C. Depending on the circumstances of the fall, you may have a valid slip and fall case. A slip and fall can result in pain and suffering, emotional anguish, medical bills, and lost wages.
If another person was at fault for your accident, hiring a lawyer will enable you to collect damages. Here at Lieberman Injury Law, we know how common these cases are and that not everyone knows what to do when it happens to them. Read on to learn what you should do after a slip and fall.
Were the Conditions Dangerous?
Two details that will always be reviewed in such cases is whether dangerous conditions existed that caused your fall, and whether the property owner acted as a reasonable owner should. For example, if you were shopping at a grocery store and you slipped and fell in a puddle of water, a “reasonable” property owner would have noticed the hazard and fixed it before anyone got hurt. If this happened to you, then you may have a case.
Common examples of dangerous conditions include:
- Wet and slippery floors
- Improperly secured handrail
- Severely damaged sidewalk
- Inadequate lighting
- Long cords stretched across the floor
- Slippery paint on the walkway
- Faulty staircase
If the hazard was obvious and you should have known the situation would be dangerous but didn’t avoid it, your compensation may be significantly reduced. Furthermore, if you were walking on a hazardous sidewalk, but you were being careless and neglected to see the warning sign, it may be questioned whether you used a reasonable amount of care to prevent your injury. Carelessness and negligence on your part can hurt your claim. When you speak with the team at Lieberman Injury Law, it’s important to present all the facts surrounding your slip and fall, even if it shows that you were partially at fault.
Did the Property Owner Act Reasonably?
As previously stated, a reasonable property owner would act quickly to remedy a dangerous situation. The owner would fix the problem or put up signs notifying customers/passersby of the hazardous condition to prevent injuries. The owner of a business does not have to ensure that their property is perfectly safe, but it must be reasonably safe. If a dangerous condition lasted long enough for the owner to see and do something about, but didn’t take action to remedy the situation, their actions may not be considered reasonable, and they may be at fault.
If you were involved in a slip and fall accident but you are not sure if you have a case, contact the lawyers at Lieberman Injury Law. Our team has worked on countless slip and fall cases in Washington D.C., and we will review your accident and let you know if you have a case.
When to Pursue a Slip and Fall Claim
It’s recommended that you contact an attorney if your slip and fall resulted in a serious injury. Accidents sustained from slip and falls are vast and largely dependent on the severity of the fall. Some examples of serious injuries include:
- Neck/spinal injury
- Back injury
- Concussion/contusion
- Broken bones
Some people may think they have a case because they scraped their knee or bruised their elbow. Although it was unfortunate that this happened, settlements are based on the extent of your injuries, so this will not be enough to file a claim.
Contact Lieberman Injury Law
If you believe you have a claim, contact our law office today. Injuries can have traumatic consequences and if you don’t receive damages, you may experience financial hardships. Our attorneys will sit with you during the initial consultation and begin to strategize how to move forward to secure the highest settlement. For a personal injury attorney in Washington, D.C., contact us. Call 800.973.5331 for a free consultation.