A sudden fall can lead to severe injuries, particularly if you fall awkwardly against an unforgiving surface or hit a sensitive part of the body, like the head or neck. Whether an accident of this nature has minor or life-altering repercussions, though, the process of holding a landowner liable can be time-consuming, legally complex, and difficult to manage alone.
How Fault Works in Slip and Fall Cases
Personal injury lawsuits built around slipping and tripping accidents are governed by premises liability law, under which property owners have different “duties” to protect different types of “visitors” on their land. People who slip or trip and fall in places like retail stores where their presence benefits the landowner can expect that landowner to:
- Warn of all hazards they know about
- Resolve known hazards within a reasonable time
- Regularly inspect their property, so they become aware of new hazards
People who get hurt this way on other types of property or under different circumstances may have additional filing options that a seasoned Garland slip and fall attorney could explain in more detail during an initial meeting.
If a property visitor does have the standing to file a lawsuit or demand a settlement over a slip or trip and fall, they must not only prove the landowner failed to meet their established duty and directly caused their injury but also that they themselves were not negligent in a way that contributed to causing the accident.
