Scottsdale Slip & Fall Injury Lawyer
Being involved in a slip and fall accident could cause serious and painful injuries that interfere with your life and future. If a property owner had a responsibility to prevent or fix the hazard that caused your slip and fall accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact a lawyer at Harris & Harris injury claim to discuss your legal options with an experienced slip and fall injury lawyer in Scottsdale. We offer free initial consultations.
Why Choose Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers?
- Our personal injury lawyers have recovered over $100 million for their clients. This includes a recovery of $1 million for a client who suffered a slip and fall injury at a convenience store.
- We have a 99 percent success rate. Our attorneys work relentlessly to achieve the results that our clients need and deserve, even if this means taking slip and fall cases to trial.
- You will not pay your slip and fall injury lawyer unless we secure financial compensation for your losses. Our law firm accepts all personal injury cases on a contingency basis.
Common Causes of Slip & Fall Accidents
Slip, trip and fall accidents can often be prevented. They are typically caused by hazards or defects that exist on a property due to poor maintenance. If a property owner is negligent, or carelessly fails to maintain a safe premises for visitors, the property could fall into a dangerous state of disrepair.
A wide range of dangerous property conditions can cause slip and fall accidents in Scottsdale, including:
- Wet floors
- Freshly mopped floors
- Spills and leaks
- No warning or caution signs
- Uneven pavement or floors
- Cracked sidewalks
- Lack of proper handrails or guardrails
- Unsafe staircases
- Cluttered aisles or walkways
- Unsecured rugs or carpeting
- Inadequate lighting
If a reasonably prudent property owner would have noticed and remedied the hazard that caused your slip and fall accident, the negligent owner of the property where you fell could be held liable, or financially responsible, for your losses. Business owners can also be held vicariously liable for the negligence of their employees.
How Do I Prove Negligence in a Scottsdale Slip & Fall Case?
A slip and fall accident is a type of premises liability claim. The doctrine of premises liability states that the owner or controller of a property is responsible for maintaining safe conditions on their premises and addressing any hazards that could cause harm to guests or visitors. If a property owner fails to fulfill this responsibility (otherwise known as a duty of care), he or she can be financially responsible for an injured victim’s bills and losses.
To hold a property owner liable for a slip and fall in Scottsdale, you or your Scottsdale personal injury lawyer must prove negligence. The definition of negligence is to fail to act with proper care. What is “proper” depends on the circumstances, such as the legal classification of the property visitor. There are invitees, licensees and trespassers, each with different duties of care given to a property owner.
Proving negligence in a slip and fall case requires clear and convincing evidence that the property owner or accused party (the defendant) owed the victim a duty of care, breached this duty of care, and caused or contributed to the victim’s injury. There must be proof that a reasonable and prudent property owner would have done something differently to prevent the slip and fall accident, such as remedy the hazard in a timely manner.
What Evidence Is Crucial for a Scottsdale Slip & Fall Case?
Evidence is a critical part of any personal injury claim. In the civil justice system, the injured party or plaintiff bears the burden of proving that what he or she is claiming is true. The burden of proof in a slip and fall claim is a preponderance of the evidence, otherwise known as more likely than not, or true with at least a 51 percent certainty.
Evidence that could be used to establish a slip and fall injury claim includes:
- Photos of the accident scene and hazardous condition
- Signed statements from eyewitnesses
- An official incident report
- Video surveillance footage of the fall
- Property maintenance and repair records
- Business inspection reports
- Opinions from highly qualified experts
- Medical records proving the injury
- Documentation of other damages
You do not have to preserve, collect or submit evidence to support your claim alone. An attorney from Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers can investigate your accident and gather evidence for you. However, you can strengthen your case by taking pictures at the scene before you leave, speaking to eyewitnesses and reporting the accident.
What Types of Compensation Can I Recover?
Slip and fall accidents can result in serious injuries such as concussions, broken bones and soft-tissue damage. If you suffered a slip and fall injury that was caused by a property owner’s negligence, you may be eligible for financial compensation for all current and future estimated costs and losses associated with your injury.
Common types of financial compensation, or damages, available include:
- Medical bills: past and future health care costs associated with your slip and fall injury, including hospital stays, surgeries, medications, medical devices, therapy and rehabilitation.
- Pain and suffering: noneconomic or intangible losses suffered because of the accident, such as physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Lost wages: income and employment benefits lost due to having to take time off work to recover from a slip and fall injury.
- Lost capacity to earn: future estimated wages lost due to a long-term or permanent disability that interferes with your ability to work.
- Property damage repairs: compensation to repair or replace any property that was damaged or destroyed in the slip and fall accident.
It is important to discuss the potential value of your slip and fall injury case with an attorney before you accept a settlement from a property owner’s insurance company. The initial settlement offer may not adequately compensate you for your losses. An attorney can evaluate your claim and help you negotiate for maximum financial compensation.
Call Our Scottsdale Slip & Fall Attorneys Today
If you suffered a slip and fall injury anywhere in Scottsdale, Arizona – including on private property, public property, a business, a hotel or motel, the workplace, or a rental property – contact Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers to request a free case consultation about your rights. Our attorneys will carefully review your case and help you explore your legal options with personalized advice. Call us today at (702) 410-6623.