Whether in private venues or public spaces, property owners and other responsible parties have a duty to keep their property safe for all guests and customers. When proper repairs or necessary maintenance is not performed in a timely manner, it puts all people in harm’s way.
If you have tripped and fallen on a hazard on someone else’s property, you may be forced to deal with painful injuries, expensive medical bills, and may lose wages due to time away from work.
All of these consequences can have a profoundly negative effect on your health and finances. For this reason, it is important to understand how to protect yourself if you are hurt in a Sacramento trip and fall accident.
The lawyers at Demas Law Group fight for trip and fall victims to help them seek much-needed compensation and hold careless property owners responsible. To discuss your situation with one of our skilled injury attorneys, call us or contact us online today. The claim review and consultation are free.
What Is Premises Liability in Sacramento, CA?
Premises liability law is meant to protect visitors who are injured due to unreasonably dangerous conditions on someone else’s property. Under the law, people in charge of a property must take reasonable actions to secure their property so that visitors, customers, employees, and anyone else who has permission to occupy the space is safe.
When a property owner or manager fails to do so, people who become injured on the property may have the right to seek compensation.
In California, in order to determine if a property owner or manager was negligent, the following must be established:
- Duty – Depending on the type of guest, the property owner may owe different duties. For example, a store owner owes a shopper a higher duty of care than is owned to a trespasser.
- Breach of Duty – The injured party must prove that the property owner neglected to fulfill the duty of care that they were owed while on the property.
- Injury – The injury experienced by the victim must be proven to have occurred while on the unsecured property.
- Causation – In order to collect compensation, the injured party must be able to prove that their injury was directly linked to the property owner’s negligence.
Injuries that occur on an unsafe property can create complicated legal and insurance issues. If a property owner’s negligence is ever to blame for your pain, suffering, and monetary loss, the help of a skilled premises liability lawyer is the best chance you have for recovering the compensation that you need.
Common Trip and Fall Injuries in Sacramento
Some commonly reported trip and fall injuries include:
- Muscle sprains and tears
- Head injuries (often ranging from mild concussions to traumatic brain injuries)
- Fractured and broken bones
- Lacerations and abrasions
- Back injuries
- Knee, ankle, hip and other joint injuries
These and other injuries can leave victims with extensive medical bills, significant recovery time, and physical and emotional pain. When injuries are caused by the carelessness or inaction of a property owner, the injured party should not be left holding the bill for the damage.
Causes of Trip and Fall Injuries in Sacramento
Causes of trip and fall accidents vary but can often be traced back to the property owner’s failure to secure potential threats on their premises. Incidents can occur both indoors or outside of a property. For example, a shopper at a grocery store may be injured inside if they slip of unmarked damaged flooring or they could be injured in the parking lot if there are potholes or unsuitable lighting. In both instances, the property owner may be responsible for their injury.
Some common causes for trip and fall injuries include:
- Unsafe flooring
- Poorly maintained sidewalks
- Unsafe parking lots
- Slick floors
- Torn carpeting
- Lose tiles
- Ineffective lighting
- Stair defects
- Escalator malfunctions
Though these are common causes of trip and fall incidents, there are many more ways that a guest may be injured. If you are ever hurt on someone else’s property, understanding how to collect evidence and prove negligence is a key way to protect your rights.
Collecting Evidence and Witness Info to Prove Negligence
If you are injured in a trip and fall accident, collecting evidence and witness statements could be incredibly helpful down the road. If you are able to document the physical conditions of the unsafe property, this will assist your case tremendously.
- Pictures – If you are able, snap some pictures of the conditions that led to the fall. It is a good idea to capture photographs of the scene from different angles to provide a comprehensive visual catalog. Additionally, take pictures of your injuries after the incident to illustrate the immediate physical impact that you endured.
- Witness Statements – If there was anyone nearby when you fell, collecting a statement from their perspective could help provide additional insight into your case. If you are not able to collect a statement from them, try to get their name and phone number so that your lawyer can follow up with them.
- Physical Evidence – Set aside the shoes and clothing that you were wearing at the time of the accident. Make sure that you don’t wash any of these articles so that they remain in the same condition that they were in at the time of the accident.
When collecting evidence, taking pictures, and preserving evidence, don’t worry if you are going above and beyond. It is always best to be as cautious as possible. Your lawyer will help determine which pieces of evidence are relevant and which are not.
How Can a Trip & Fall Accident Lawyer in Sacramento at Demas Law Group Help Me?
If you have been injured in a trip and fall accident on someone else’s property in Sacramento, you need a lawyer who will look after your interests. The skilled personal injury lawyers at Demas Law Group understand just how serious the physical and financial effects of trip and fall accidents can be.
To discuss your case with a member of our team and make a plan to seek compensation, call us or contact us online today. The claim review and consultation are free and come with no obligations on your part.
