The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, better known as the CDC, reports that over 800,000 people annually are hospitalized due to a fall injury. Fall injuries often include head or hip fractures, as most people typically fall sideways or backward on their head or back. One in five falls causes a severe injury, which can severely hinder a person from completing work tasks or other household jobs. Falls can occur anywhere- in the isolated privacy of your own home or out in public. Should you find yourself victim to a public injury incident during a fun-filled vacation in Sin City, a Las Vegas slip and fall lawyer is there to provide an expert opinion on your case.
Table of Contents
Premises Liability
A claim for a fall incident is covered under what is referred to as premises liability. In Nevada and several other states, property owners must (at the very least) inform visitors of potential hazards and have any such hazards repaired at the soonest possible opportunity. Potential hazard signs should be posted around the property in well-lit, discernable areas to maintain as close to a risk-free environment as humanely possible. Property managers must comply with all local county and state requirements, with failure to do so resulting in filed claims against them.
Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
There are many possible causes of slip and fall accidents– most of which are small and meticulous yet preventable if noticed and adequately dealt with. The most common causes of slip and fall accidents are wet or uneven surfaces or crummy environmental conditions. Improper safety practices are the next most likely reason for a fall incident, furthering the importance of hanging a potential hazard sign around the potential problem areas. Staff training and education are also of utmost importance to reduce the number of accidents as well.
Examples of potential hazards:
- Loose or uneven floorboards
- Freshly mopped or waxed or cleaned floors
- Clutter
- Poor lighting
- Poor staff training or education
Types of Compensation
Different types of compensation could include any lost wages from required appointments or injuries from the time of the accident, any pain and suffering experienced, including physical impairments, disfigurements, or other health issues due to the accident. A thorough evaluation of your claim would be conducted by your lawyer using evidence from any credible witness statements, photo or video footage, or reports filed by the property owner. In the state of Nevada, persons have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. If a claim is not filed within two years of that date, it will be blocked and unable to file.
Conclusion
Overall, to ensure you and your loved ones are covered, should you ever have to deal with a slip and fall accident in public, make sure you have a lawyer you trust whom you can call. Your emotional, personal, and medical expenses can be professionally handled when you need them most.
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