Injury

Slip and Fall Law Firms: 5 Tips from the Best Slip and Fall Attorneys

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Slip and fall law firms handle incidents in which an individual gets injured on someone’s else’s property because of a dangerous condition. This could be an wet floor without warning signs, an icy walkway, a broken piece of furniture, or something similar that impedes someone’s ability to navigate a space safely. If you were involved in a slip and fall accident, see below for tips and steps you should take to seek justice.

Slip and Fall Law Firms: What They Do for Clients

Slip and fall law firms provide professional representation and advice on how to handle a slip and fall incident. Typically, these cases are handled between a slip and fall lawyer and the property owner’s insurance company. The lawyer works to gather evidence and build a strong case as to why you deserve a financial settlement. Your Denver slip and fall attorney will argue for compensation following the incident. If the case cannot be resolved by a settlement, a lawyer can take your case to court and fight for you. While most slip and fall cases do not need to escalate to a trial, it is crucial to have someone knowledgeable about specific slip and fall laws on your side throughout the process to build your case.

The Colorado Premises Liability Act

The Colorado Premises Liability Act C.R.S. § 13-21-115 Actions against landowners (PLA)  applies to “any civil action brought against a landowner by a person who alleges injury occurring while on the real property of another and by reason of the condition of such property, or activities conducted or circumstances existing on such property.” In essence, it applies to nearly any injuries arising from an incident that takes place on the land or property of another. Liability is also determined by the injured party’s status in relation to the landowner and by the landowner’s knowledge of dangerous conditions.

Successfully navigating these cases requires a slip and fall lawyer with extensive knowledge and experience concerning these types of accidents and the laws surrounding them. This is why is they are best handled by an experienced Colorado slip and fall lawyer. If you were involved in a slip and fall accident, see the following tips to secure the best outcome for a legal case.

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5 Tips from the Best Slip and Fall Attorneys

  1. Prioritize Your Safety
  2. Document the Accident
  3. Gather Important Evidence
  4. Determine a Claimant Category
  5. Contact Slip and Fall Law Firms

1. Prioritize Your Safety

One of the most important tips from the best slip and fall attorneys is to put your safety first. If you get injured, do not hesitate to go to the hospital or call 911 to receive medical treatment. At the scene of the incident, make sure there is no additional danger, so you do not risk further injury. When first responders arrive at the scene, inform them of how the accident occurred. You do not need to withhold any information to medics when you are injured; recount all details to the medical team so they can provide proper treatment.

2. Document the Accident

Following the accident, if you are able, document details that may be relevant to your case. Some examples of helpful documentation include filing an incident report and getting the information of any witnesses who were at the scene. If there is a video camera present that may have captured the incident, ask for the footage. If there is anything else relevant at the scene, pull out your phone and shoot a few pictures of what caused the accident, and where you were impacted in your fall. If you slipped on something, take pictures of the substance and the surrounding area. If there were no warning signs present, make sure your pictures show that. In the end, all these items can help a lawyer build a stronger case and secure a better settlement.

If you were partially responsible for your fall, you may still have a case. In the state of Colorado, comparative fault applies, which means a jury assigns a percentage of fault to each party involved in an accident. If you are considered less than 50% at fault, you can still receive compensation. A Denver slip and fall lawyer can help you look at comparative fault.

3. Gather Important Evidence

One reason to get in touch with the best slip and fall attorneys is they can help you gather, document, and make sense of evidence pertaining to the incident. This information can quickly disappear following an accident, but there are steps you can take to avoid lost details. If you are able, contact a slip and fall law firm in your state to confirm what evidence might help. Keep and protect any medical bills, documents, and photos. Also, write down your first-hand account of the incident as soon as possible, because over time, the details may be lost to memory. Concrete accounts of the accident can be critical to successful case results.

4. Determine a Claimant Category

According to the Colorado Premises Liability Act, slip and fall claimants are separated into three categories. The first, the “invitee” category – pertains to someone who goes on someone else’s property essentially as someone involved in a mutually beneficial relationship with the landowner. For example, an invitee may be a business customer or simply someone invited onto someone else’s property in a way that benefits the landowner. The second category is the “licensee”, which is an individual on a landowner’s property with their permission. The difference is that this person is on the property for their own benefit (not a financial transaction), or as a social guest to the owner.

Finally, a “trespasser” is an individual who is on someone’s property illegally or without the landowner’s consent. Unsurprisingly, where someone falls in these three categories greatly impacts their possible avenues for legal action. If you are not sure where you fall within these categories, slip and fall law firms can help you determine fault and navigate the best next steps.

5. Contact One of the Most Reliable Slip and Fall Law Firms

Following an incident, a lot of things happen very quickly. Navigating medical bills, insurance companies, and documentation can be overwhelming, and during that time, important details tend to get overlooked. Once you are safe and stable, be sure to promptly call one of the best slip and fall attorneys. They can help you through all these steps and provide insight into the best courses of action. A slip and fall attorney represents your interests and acts as a point of contact between you and the landowner’s insurer, so you do not have to get involved with the complicated and stressful details of the case. That way, you can focus on your recovery instead of legal details.

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Get in Touch with the Best Slip and Fall Attorneys

If you are looking for one of the best slip and fall attorneys in Colorado, get in touch with CO Trial Lawyers today. Jake C. Eisenstein is a personal injury attorney who handles all aspects of serious injury cases related to slip and fall accidents, as well as car accidents, bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents, insurance bad faith incidents, and beyond. We hold negligent parties accountable for their actions and help our clients get the compensation they deserve.

With the help of a Denver personal injury law firm, you can seek justice following an accident. We make sure your rights are protected every step of the way. Contact our law firm today to discuss your case and get started with a free consultation.