San Francisco Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers
Slip and fall accidents are the cause of more than 17,000 deaths in the United States every year, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Slip and fall, or trip and fall injuries, affect roughly 1 million Americans annually. If a victim is on someone else’s property, and they slip and fall or trip and fall, or are otherwise injured because of dangerous conditions on that property, legal action may be taken. Slip and fall accident injuries are covered under an area of law known as premises liability law. Premises liability law holds the property owner or tenant financially responsible for injuries that occurred on their property, if certain conditions are met. Slip and fall accidents can occur in homes, apartment complexes, shopping malls, theaters, supermarkets, amusement parks, construction sites, nursing homes, government and commercial buildings.
Consult a San Francisco slip and fall accident attorney for questions you may have about your slip and fall injuries or a loved one's wrongful death from a fall. An attorney at Estey Bomberger can explain what laws may be applicable to your case and if you are entitled to compensation for any expenses related to your injury, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other accident related expenses.
Slip and Fall Accident Causes
Slip and fall accidents causes are categorized into three different types:
Trip and Fall
This fall is caused by an object in the walking path of the victim. For example, a victim trips over an electrical cord, lying on the ground.
Step and Fall
This fall is caused by a hole in the walking surface or failure of the walking surface. An example of a step and fall accident is the victim walking over and into an uncovered or unmarked manhole.
Slip and Fall
This fall is caused by unstable footing. For example, a slip and fall accident victim slips and falls to the ground, because of a spill on a floor.
Slip and Fall Accident Injuries
The elderly are most at risk for a slip and fall accident related injury. Of the 17,000 slip and fall deaths each year, more than 15,000 of those are to people aged 65 and older. Injuries that could severely hamper mobility for a young adult can have an even greater impact on the elderly. Slip and fall victims are often treated for injuries to the hip, leg, pelvis, arm, hand, head and spinal cord. Of these, head injuries are the most common, and account for almost 46 percent of fatal falls among the elderly.
What to Do if An Injury Has Occurred
Seek professional medical assistance immediately. Even if an injury does not seem severe, have a trained medical professional treat you. Severe slip and fall accident injuries do not always manifest until days, weeks, or even months later.
Document the dangerous condition that caused your injury. If you are able, take pictures of the accident scene to document the dangerous conditions. A picture can help you prove liability, if needed.
Report the accident. If the San Francisco slip and fall accident happens at a store or mall, report the accident immediately to management. This report will document the date, time and circumstances surrounding the accident. This report will also establish that the accident did take place, preventing an owner from later trying to deny the accident ever happened.
Contact a San Francisco personal injury lawyer. By contacting a lawyer at Estey Bomberger, we can start a proper investigation of the accident and help you protect your rights. We will inspect the site, preserve evidence, interview witness and take your case to trial, if a settlement cannot be reached in a reasonable amount of time.
Free Slip and Fall Accident Consultation
The premises liability law firm of Estey Bomberger offers free consultations to discuss your potential claim and answer your questions. We will not charge you any up-front fees and if we represent you, there are no charges unless we recover money for you. A San Francisco slip and fall accident attorney at Estey Bomberger can be reached at (415) 877-1334. Call anytime, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.