Posted on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2016 at 7:13 am
A slip and fall accident can cause serious injuries that result in a great deal of physical pain and financial loss. It is important to prove that the property owner is responsible for the conditions that led to your fall if you expect to recover compensation for your injuries.
However, in many cases, a property owner and its insurance company attempt to blame the accident victim to avoid paying damages. They may claim that the victim did something to cause the fall such as wearing inappropriate shoes or texting while walking.
It is important to contact an experienced Sacramento slip and fall attorney as soon as possible. Our attorneys can take steps to protect your right to recover compensation from the property owner for your damages from a slip and fall accident.
How Can You Prove That A Property Owner Is At Fault For A Slip And Fall Accident?
To receive compensation for a slip and fall accident, you must prove that a dangerous condition existed and the property owner knew or should have known about the condition but failed to correct it. Unfortunately, a property owner can correct the dangerous condition after your fall then claim you caused your fall. Our Sacramento slip and fall attorneys can take several steps to fight this allegation.
Property Inspection
As soon as possible after a fall, we need to conduct a property inspection to document the conditions at the time of the fall. The closer to the time of the fall, the better for your claim. Ideally, we want to find the conditions that caused your fall, such as slick tiles, broken stairs, poor lighting, debris on the floor, or uneven floors. Taking pictures at the time of the fall is the ideal way to preserve the accident scene, but this may not always be possible. Therefore, contacting our Sacramento personal injury law firm as soon as possible after a fall is advisable.
Eyewitness Statements
Another way to prove you were not at fault for the fall is to obtain statements from people who were present at the time of the accident. If possible, get the names and contact information of any witnesses to the fall so that our attorneys can obtain detailed witness statements before memories begin to fade. Having an eyewitness testify that something slippery was on the floor, the step was broken, or an appliance was leaking can prove you were no responsible for your fall.
Obtain Video
Many public establishments have video footage from security cameras. Obtaining video footage is one of the best ways to prove that you were not responsible for your fall. However, video footage can be erased or taped over. Therefore, you want to act quickly to put the property owner on notice to preserve the footage and provide a copy to your attorney.
Call A Sacramento Slip And Fall Attorney
Do not be surprised if a property owner or its insurance company accuses you of being responsible for your fall. They want to avoid paying a large settlement, if possible. You need a Sacramento slip and fall attorney on your side who will fight for your right to recover full compensation for your accident claim.
For a slip and fall injury, call the Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000. Our attorneys offer free legal consultations for accident victims and their families. Get the information and legal advice you need to ensure you take the necessary steps to protect your rights in a slip and fall case.
