Riverside Slip and Fall Attorney

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Slip and fall accidents are no laughing matter for victims. They can cause serious, catastrophic, or even fatal injuries. If you have been hurt in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, it is in your best interest to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Call Hanson & Mouri in Riverside as soon as possible for a free consultation. You may have a premises liability claim for compensation.

Why Choose Hanson & Mouri?

• We have been representing clients in matters of personal injury law for more than 20 years.
• Our dedicated personal injury, elder abuse, and Riverside car accident lawyer are committed to giving every client the focus and undivided attention he or she deserves.
• We handle our cases on a contingency fee basis to give injured people access to the legal system and justice. There are no upfront costs and you pay us no fees until we recover compensation for you.

What Are the Most Common Slip & Fall Accidents?

Claims for slip and fall injuries often arise from accidents caused by: 

• Wet or slippery floors
• Worn and uneven flooring
• Loose mats or rugs
• Broken steps or railings 
• Poor lighting 
• Debris or loose materials in a walkway
• Damaged or loose floorboards
• Potholes or cracks
• Exposed wiring

These accidents commonly occur in grocery stores, restaurants, parking garages, amusement parks, swimming pools, escalators and elevators, and a variety of other places. If evidence can be gathered to prove the property owner was aware of the hazard or should have known about it, you can recover compensation after a fall in any of these circumstances. 

Common Injuries in Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accident injuries lead to more than a million emergency room visits every year in the U.S. This type of accident can cause serious injuries requiring extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. Victims can become disabled or even die from slip and fall accident injuries, particularly older adults. Common injuries in slip and fall accidents include:

Head injuries and traumatic brain injury: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are most often caused by falls. They can range from mild to severe, but victims can be left with permanent impairments.

Hip fractures: More than 95 percent of broken hips are caused by falls, according to the CDC. Older adults are at particular risk of this type of injury.

Back and spinal injuries: Muscle strains and sprains, compression fractures, herniated discs, tailbone injuries, and spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are common in slip and fall accidents. If a victim suffers a serious SCI, they may experience a degree of paralysis and loss of sensation below the site of damage.

Shoulder injuries: The impact of a fall can jolt the shoulder, often resulting in a dislocation or brachial plexus injury, which can cause pain, weakness, and numbness in the arm and hand.

Bone fractures: Severe bone fractures often affect the wrists, ankles, and hips. 

Sprains and strains: Sprains and strains of the soft tissue in the arms, wrists, legs, or ankles are very common. 

What To Do Immediately After a Slip & Fall Takes Place

Every choice following a slip and fall accident can impact your ability to claim compensation for your injuries. Here is what to do to protect your rights: 

Call 911

If you are severely injured, call or ask someone to call 911. Emergency medical responders will transport you to the hospital if necessary, and a police officer will arrive to make a report. 

Document the Scene

Take photos or videos of the hazardous condition that caused your fall, the surrounding area, and of your injuries. This must be done quickly before the hazard is cleaned up or repaired.

Look for Witnesses 

Speak to anyone who witnessed your slip and fall. Ask for their contact information and if they are willing to make a short recording of what they saw on your phone. When filing a claim, witness statements can influence an insurance company’s decision on fault. 

Notify the Property Owner

If applicable, file an incident report with the property owner or manager, or at least notify them of the fall and that you are seeking medical care. Even if a slip and fall seems minor, injuries can have delayed symptoms, so it is best not to discuss the extent of your harm at this time. If the owner or manager refuses to file a report, call to notify the police. 

Seek Medical Care

See a physician as soon as possible after leaving the scene. Not only is it beneficial for your health, but there must be medical records linking your injuries and any potential harm to the slip and fall accident.

Contact an Experienced Slip and Fall Attorney

Most slip and fall lawyer offer free consultations and can advise you of your legal options. They can also handle every aspect of your claim once you hire representation. With their experience and knowledge, they can protect you from being taken advantage of by an insurer and will ensure you recover the compensation you deserve.

What Must You Prove To Win a Slip and Fall Accident Case?

To win a slip and fall accident case and recover damages, you must prove the following four elements of your claim:

• The defendant owned, leased, occupied, or controlled the property.
• The defendant was negligent in the maintenance or use of the property.
• You were harmed by slipping and falling on the property.
• The defendant’s negligence was a substantial factor in causing the harm you suffered.

How Do You Prove That the Property Owner Was Negligent?

To prove that the property owner was negligent, you must provide evidence of the following four elements of negligence:

Duty of Care

The property owner owed you a duty of care to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. This duty only applies if you were legally allowed on the property and not trespassing.  

Breach of Care

The property owner failed to exercise reasonable care for visitors, as a condition on the property created an unreasonable risk of harm and the defendant knew or should have known through the exercise of reasonable care about the hazardous condition on the property.

Causation

The defendant failed to repair the condition, protect against harm from the hazard, or give adequate warning, directly causing your slip and fall accident and resulting injuries. 

Damages

Proof you sustained damages (losses) from the slip and fall accident. For example, medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, etc.

Why You Need a Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer

Slip and fall accidents occur when a person trips or slips and falls and is injured while on someone elseʼs property. There is no precise way to determine who is at fault when a slip and fall injury occurs. If you or a family member believe you have suffered a slip and fall injury that required medical attention or wrongful death as the result of someone elseʼs negligence or irresponsible behavior you need an Inland Empire slip and fall accident lawyer on your side to answer all your questions about premises liability laws and represent your legal rights. Our Inland Empire Law Offices specialize in slip and fall and premises liability accidents occurring at places where dangerous conditions can be created: at a place of business, in public, or even someone elseʼs home.

What Should I Ask An Attorney In My Free Consultation?

When you meet with a slip and fall attorney, here are some important questions to ask so that you can understand your options. 

1. Will you be the attorney handling my claim, and how many cases do you typically handle at a time? 
2. How much experience do you have with slip and fall cases? 
3. Has your license ever been revoked or suspended?
4. Have you ever had a slip and fall case similar to mine? What was the outcome? 
5. How does pricing work? Do I pay if I lose my case? This is typically no, but it is still vital to discuss before hiring an attorney.
6. How many of your cases have gone to trial? A lawyer with trial experience can be crucial.
7. How long do you think it will take to resolve the case and receive compensation for my injuries? Are there any potential issues or difficulties already evident in my case?
8. What is my case’s value? They may be able to give an estimate of your case’s worth.
9. If I hire you, can I contact you at any time?
10. Do you have references?

Speaking with previous clients before hiring a lawyer is always a good idea, so you can get a feel for their working style and track record. An experienced slip and fall lawyer should be happy to supply this information. 

How Does a Slip & Fall Lawyer Collect Evidence for My Case?

Once you hire a slip and fall lawyer, they will immediately begin investigating your accident and preserving evidence to support it. That may include the following: 

Collecting Documentation

All physical evidence will be collected, for example, by:

• Sending out trained investigators to the scene of the slip and fall if necessary. 
• Taking pictures of the scene where you were injured and the area surrounding it if you were unable to. 
• Searching for available surveillance footage of the fall. 
• Obtaining a copy of the police report if one was made and/or the incident report filed with the property owner or manager. 
• Ensuring you receive skilled medical care and proper follow-up treatment. 
• Obtaining copies and reviewing all medical records that link your injuries to the slip and fall. 
• Gathering copies of pay stubs, tax returns, and other documentation to prove lost income. 

Interviewing Witnesses

If anyone witnessed your slip and fall accident, your attorney will follow up with them to get their statement. Since they have no financial stake in your claim, their opinion can be critical evidence.

Hiring Experts

Your attorney will have the resources to hire expert witnesses, which may be necessary to recover fair compensation. Some examples include: 

• A medical expert to give testimony regarding the severity of your injuries and their long-term impact. 
• A psychologist to testify about your emotional state and how the slip and fall affects you mentally (e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc.).
• A vocational expert if your injuries prevent you from working in the job position you held before or force you into a different line of work. 

Types of Slip and Fall Accident Cases We Handle

This list is not exhaustive, but our Riverside slip and fall lawyer can represent cases involving injuries suffered as the result of:

Slips and Falls in a Business

Business owners owe visitors a high duty of care to keep their premises safe from preventable slip and fall accidents. They must regularly inspect the premises for potential dangers and correct them or warn visitors as soon as they are aware of hazards or should have been. 

Sidewalk Slip and Falls

The owner or lessor of the property adjacent to a sidewalk may be liable for failing to keep the sidewalk in a reasonably safe condition. 

Slip and Fall on Government Property

A government agency responsible for maintaining a property may be liable for a slip and fall accident. For example, if a dangerous condition on state property was negligently created or maintained; for the negligent construction of state sidewalks or buildings; or for the negligent actions of a government employee. 

Slip and Falls on Private Property 

Private property owners owe a lower duty of care to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. However, identified dangers must be fixed or warned about. 

Slip and Falls in the Workplace

Injured workers are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, but further compensation can be recovered if a third party was also liable. 

From beginning to the end of my case my attorney and his staff has made this process easy. I even referred my brother to Hanson & Mouri. – Jordan G.

Financial Impact of Slip and Fall Accident Injuries

The resulting injury from your slip and fall accident can have a severe impact on the financial capabilities of your entire family. Economic hardship can result from loss of wages and earning capacity as you may not be able to return to work. In addition, medical expenses can create a costly financial burden. The experience of our slip and fall lawyer can help get your family the money they need to pay bills, avoid the foreclosure of your home and damage to your credit. Our slip and fall attorney serve Riverside and San Bernardino with 10 years of experience and will provide you with passionate, quality legal representation. Let our Law Offices put this experience to work for you and your family. Our experienced Inland Empire slip and fall lawyer can work to get you and your family monetary compensation to help pay your bills and ease your pain and suffering.

Get In Touch with Our Firm

Contact our law firm now, there is no charge for your consultation, and we will listen to your case. We will keep you informed of significant developments and provide legal services promptly and professionally. You and your loved ones deserve to have your rights protected by a professional. Hanson & Mouri Riverside personal injury attorney can work to make your family whole again. If you’ve been injured outside of Riverside, contact our San Bernardino premises liability attorney.

Our law office serves Riverside, Corona, Norco, Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Hemet, Banning, Beaumont, Moreno Valley, & Calimesa.