Slip and Fall Lawyer Washington DC
Slip, trip, and fall accidents can be considered “premises liability” cases, which can arise when a property owner or custodian of property neglect the maintenance, repair, and/or upkeep of a property. While it varies from state to state, state laws may require land and property owners to keep up the location and maintain it so that there isn’t an unreasonable risk of harm to those that work at or come to the property. Oftentimes, the laws that are in place affect both business owners and homeowners. This can be a problem if someone has a slip and fall accident at someone’s home or place of business. If that a slip and fall accident occurs, the person involved may want to contact a slip and fall lawyer.
Washington Slip and Fall Lawyer
- Fall Accident Statistics
- Common Causes of Tripping or Slipping and Falling
- Washington Slip and Fall Law Infographic
- Common slip and fall injuries include but are not limited to:
- Slip and Fall Diagnoses and Treatments
- Slip and Fall / Trip and Fall Definitions
- Cohen & Cohen Washington Slip and Fall Lawyers
- Washington Slip and Fall Lawyers Google Review
- Contact Cohen & Cohen Washington Slip and Fall Lawyers Today!
In many states, a merchant owes a duty to persons who use his/her premises to exercise reasonable care to keep his aisles, passageways, and floors in a reasonably safe condition. This duty includes a reasonable effort to keep the premises free of any hazardous conditions which reasonably might give rise to the damage. If premises are not maintained you may have the right to seek compensation for the damages you have suffered after a slip and fall accident.
There are many different occurrences of premise liability cases. Some slip and fall cases are a result of “slip and falls at commercial establishments caused by liquids or foreign substances.” Some accidents are “trip and fall incidents caused by unsafe property conditions.” There are many accidents at locations that involve construction sites. Other premise liability cases go to lawsuits because “construction site accidents and, assaults by employees or business patrons in many states, business owners and property owners have a duty to provide a safe environment for individuals on their premises.”
You may want to contact a slip and fall attorney if you have been involved in a slip and fall accident. If a home, property owner, or business establishment has failed to provide you with a safe environment, then you may have a right to bring a claim or suit for damages you have suffered or incurred because of your slip and fall injury. Following a slip and fall accident, these damages may include pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages.
Some tips in dealing with the aftermath of a slip and fall accident include, not making detailed statements concerning fault, getting the names of owners and property managers of the property, writing down the names of witnesses to the slip and fall accident, taking pictures of the scene of the slip and fall, taking photos if anything at the location caused the slip and fall, taking photos of the injuries sustained, seeking medical attention and not giving recorded statements to insurance adjusters.
Every state or district (like Washington DC) has different laws about the liability of a premises owner or operator that apply to the circumstances, which is why it may be helpful to contact a slip and fall attorney who knows about the laws of each city in the metropolitan DC area. Some examples of liability are that an owner of a home or public store has a duty to let you know about a hazard. Construction signs exist because construction workers are legally obligated to warn the public about the many hazards of construction sites. Each circumstance and state is different, and therefore it can differ on who may be liable for the injuries you sustain, even if you have been warned about potential injury. A slip and fall lawyer may be able to navigate your personal injury claim because you have to prove liability.
Slip and falls can occur because of many factors, including; missing a step, slipping on something on the stairs, tripping over an article of clothing, reaching for a handrail, and losing your balance on stairs that are of varied height.
In order to be awarded damages in a lawsuit, you and your personal injury lawyer must prove the defendant was negligent, and that the defendant’s negligence was a factor in causing your injury. Unlike a car accident case, which can be more cut and dry, a slip and fall case can be much more complex. Some slips and falls and the reasons they occurred aren’t always clear cut.
An expert personal injury lawyer can help examine the scene of the slip and fall and analyze the different possible ways the accident happened. An experienced personal injury lawyer can review the state, federal, and local laws, which can be varied in the metropolitan DC area, to help an injured person determine if the condition of the premises violated any of those laws. If so, with the aid of a slip and fall lawyer, a person may decide to retain an expert witness to testify as to the defendant’s negligence.
Securing legal counsel can be one of your biggest assets if you’ve had a slip and fall accident in the Washington DC area. A personal injury attorney can help you file any lawsuit needs. If you or someone you know is in the DC area and looking to file a lawsuit after being involved in a slip and fall, you can reach us at a 24/7 live phone answering. So, if you need a DC lawyer who handles slip and fall accidents contact Cohen & Cohen, our DC Law Firm today.
Slip and fall accidents can happen almost anywhere to anyone, and if it has happened to you in the Washington D.C. area, you may be in need of a slip and fall law firm Washington D.C. community members recommend.
Whether you were on your way to work or doing something on the job, or on your way to or from a doctor’s office, or walking through the parking lot of your favorite store- if you tripped and fell doing any of these things or many, many more- your injuries can range from mild to very, very serious.
If you are concerned that you may be in need of a top-rated slip and fall law firm Washington D.C. slip and fall victims recommend, contact an experienced lawyer at Cohen & Cohen, any time of the day or night, any day of the year.
Fall Accident Statistics
According to information updated in 2017 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the total number of unintentional injury deaths was 135,928. The number of motor vehicle traffic deaths was 33,736 with the number of unintentional fall deaths close behind at 31,959.
In 2013, more than 2.5 million older adults visited emergency rooms in the U.S. when they were injured in non-fatal falls. 734,000 people were checked-in to hospitals because of falls and fall-related injuries.
According to information compiled by the National Business Group on Health fact sheet, from 1997 to 2007, falls were the top cause of injury for people of all ages. The injuries that were sustained ranged from mild to severe and life-threatening.
If you are one of the many unfortunate people who have been injured as the result of a slip (or trip) and fall accident, talking to an experienced slip and fall law firm Washington D.C. residents have gotten help from in the past, may help you to make better-informed decisions about what your next steps should be. If you or a loved one was hurt in a slip and fall accident, you may have the legal right to get compensation from the person or company that owns the property, or the property manager, where your injury occurred. When you discuss your particular situation and injury with a lawyer who has fought slip and fall cases before, s/he may be able to help you to determine whether your case is one worth pursuing through the legal system.
If you or someone you love has been injured because of a slip and fall or a trip and fall accident, the sooner you contact a slip and fall law firm Washington D.C. slip and fall victims have relied on in the past, the sooner your lawyers will be able to start building and strong and compelling case to try to get you compensation for your injuries.
Common Causes of Tripping or Slipping and Falling
Common causes of slip and fall accidents include but are not limited to:
- Poorly lit and/or poorly marked walkways and stairs
- Slippery floors
- Changes in floor surface, such as walking from stone onto a carpet
- Ice or snow
- Potholes and cracks in sidewalks or flooring
- Stairs (too steep, broken, or inadequate handrails, narrow steps, etc.)
- Trash and foreign objects on walkways
- Curbs
- Uneven surface heights
Many slip and fall accidents could be prevented with proper care and maintenance but unfortunately, not all property owners and managers do their due diligence in this area.
To help you determine whether you have a slip and fall claim that may entitle you to compensation, contact Cohen & Cohen for a top-rated slip and fall law firm in Washington D.C. victims and their families have sought compensation in the past.
Washington Slip and Fall Law Infographic
Because slip and fall (also known as trip and fall) accidents happen every day, if you are reading this you may be in need of a top, Washington slip and fall attorney friends and neighbors have grown to trust. Very often, slip and fall accidents can be caused by the neglect of a property owner. If a property owner fails to clean or place caution signs where people frequently walk, slip and fall accidents are common.
Slip and fall accidents are also common when property owners fail to maintain parking lot surfaces, indoor and outdoor floors and walkways, handrails and many other situations.
Common slip and fall injuries include but are not limited to:
- Sprains
- Tears
- Broken and/or fractured bones
- Dislocated shoulders or other joints
- Brain injuries and trauma
It does not matter whether you had a slip and fall accident at a business, on public property, or in someone’s private residence, a property owner is responsible for upholding safety standards on any property he or she owns.
If you or someone you know is suffering as the result of a slip and fall accident, help yourself by getting in touch with a top Washington slip and fall attorney has to offer, at Cohen & Cohen, today. Our compassionate team of legal experts is available for a free case evaluation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Slip and Fall Diagnoses and Treatments
Oftentimes, the injuries people sustain from trips and all accidents are minor. They may require little more than first-aid treatment if even that. More often though they are more serious and can cause fractures, broken bones, muscle and ligament tears, and more. These injuries may require:
- Emergency care
- X-Rays
- MRIs
- Ultrasound
- Physical therapy
- Surgery
- Ongoing medical treatment
Many victims of slip and fall accidents do not realize the extent of their injuries when they first occur. Very often, a body sends out a surge of adrenaline when it is injured. This often blocks pain signals. People may not feel pain until an hour or more after an injury.
Even if an individual does feel pain immediately following an injury, they may not associate the pain with an injury until that pain fails to go away over time. Doctors and attorneys who have experience working with slip and fall victims recommend that you exercise caution and receive medical attention after a fall.
Slip and Fall / Trip and Fall Definitions
Slip and fall injuries very often involve a slip or a trip, and then a fall.
Slip – occurs when there is not enough traction between the bottom of a foot and a walking surface
- Can occur with or without shoes or boots on
- Can occur when a surface is wet or messy
- Caution signs should be clearly posted by building owners or their employees when someplace that people walk is wet or messy
- It does not matter who made the mess or when it was made. It is the owner’s responsibility to maintain safety standards.
Trip – occurs when a person collides with something a loses their balance as a result of the collision. Can occur when walking:
- Over broken pieces of brick and tile
- On uneven pavement, cement, asphalt, or other materials used to make sidewalks and walkways
- On frayed, curling or otherwise poorly laid rugs and carpets
Cohen & Cohen Washington Slip and Fall Lawyers
1730 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Suite #410 Washington, DC 20036
Washington Slip and Fall Lawyers Google Review
“Excellent lawyers! I would recommend Jill and Kris a thousand times! My personal injury claim was settled in a short amount of time without any worries. Kris made sure to keep in contact with me with updates regarding my case via phone calls and emails. Jill also went above and beyond to negotiate appropriately for my case. I am forever grateful for Cohen & Cohen law firm!” – Tara M.
Contact Cohen & Cohen Washington Slip and Fall Lawyers Today!
Even when it seems obvious that a person had slip and fall, or trip and fall accident because of someone’s negligence, it can be quite complex to prove this. If you are in the unfortunate situation of needing an attorney on your side after the trauma of a slip and fall accident, call a top slip and fall attorney Washington DC has to offer at Cohen & Cohen, today.
Legal cases tend to be complicated and hard to navigate. Do not try to do this alone when you are injured and/or inexperienced with legal proceedings. A good slip and fall attorney is an important person to have on your side. Do not trust the future well-being of your case with just anyone- call a top Washington personal injury lawyer at Cohen & Cohen, today.
