Loveland Slip and Fall Lawyer
While a slip and fall may not seem all that dangerous, these accidents can occur at almost any time and result in severe harm. Depending on how someone falls, they may suffer life-altering injuries requiring medical treatment and time off work.
If your fall occurred at someone else’s home or business, you might be able to seek damages in a personal injury lawsuit. A Loveland slip and fall lawyer could explain the laws relevant to your case and guide you through the process of filing a claim.
Property Owners Could Be Liable for Hazardous Conditions
If a property or business owner knows about a dangerous condition on their premises that could cause a slip and fall, they have a legal duty to warn visitors and remove the hazard as quickly as possible. If the owner does not take these steps, and an unsuspecting visitor falls and suffers an injury because of the dangerous condition, the property’s owner or caretaker could be responsible for compensating the injured person’s losses.
Some of the most common hazardous conditions that cause people to slip or trip include:
- Wet, greasy, or slippery floors due to spills or cleaning liquids
- Raised electrical cords
- Frayed or torn carpeting
- Loose mats or rugs
- Stepladders
- Uneven exterior walkways
- Potholes in driveways or parking lots
- Uncleared snow or ice in parking lots, steps, walkways, and entryways
- Broken stairs
- Broken or missing handrails
- Clutter and debris in walkways and aisles
A fall can cause serious injuries, particularly for older people whose bodies may be less likely to heal themselves. A skilled attorney in Loveland could investigate the cause of a slip and fall accident and fight for fair compensation from negligent property owners.
Negligent Property Owners Might Refute Slip and Fall Liability
Property owners and their attorneys may try to dispute their liability by shifting blame onto the victim instead of accepting responsibility. A seasoned slip and fall attorney could work tirelessly to build a strong compensation claim refuting a defendant’s arguments that an injured plaintiff shares liability.
Examples of defenses a property owner might use include the following:
The Hazard Was Not Hidden
A property owner might argue an injured person should have noticed a hazard and taken steps to avoid it. For instance, a property owner might claim the injured person was distracted by their phone when they fell. However, an attorney could argue the owners are still responsible for damages because they did not notify visitors or take proper steps to remove the dangerous condition.
The Injured Person Was Wearing Inappropriate Clothing
A defendant might claim that the injured person was wearing high heels or pants that were too long that they tripped over. In these cases, the property owner could still be liable if another person could have fallen, regardless of their clothing.
The Injured Person Was in a No Entry Zone
A defendant could argue they bear no responsibility if the fall happened in a restricted area of their property. However, the owner might still bear responsibility if they did not adequately rope off the area and provide sufficient signage.
The Owner Did Not Have Enough Time To Repair a Hazard
Another defense to liability in a slip and fall claim is to argue the hazardous condition had appeared immediately before the accident, so the defendant had no time to correct it. For example, if a customer tripped over clutter in a department store, the store manager could argue that another customer created the mess immediately before the fall and the staff did not have time to clean it up. A Loveland slip and fall attorney could investigate the hazardous condition to learn how long it was there and if a reasonable unsuspecting visitor could have known about it.
Contact a Loveland Slip and Fall Attorney Today
Even a simple fall can result in extensive injuries, such as broken bones, sprains, cuts, bruises, head injuries, and back injuries. A dedicated Loveland slip and fall lawyer could help you evaluate your physical, emotional, and financial losses and help you pursue compensation to cover them. Contact us today to get started.