Some of the most common accidents people have, slip and fall accidents can turn out to be extremely serious. While these accidents can occur in the home or on the job, in many cases they occur on a city sidewalk. When this occurs, victims may find themselves not only in extreme pain due to their injuries, but also wondering what their legal options are concerning a possible lawsuit. However, when considering this option, there are many factors to take into consideration.
The Question of Liability
In any slip and fall accident on a sidewalk, one of the first steps is to answer the question of who was liable. In most of these personal injury cases, a slip and fall attorney will look at whether there were circumstances that show the city was negligent in its duty of maintaining the sidewalk in a safe manner. For example, if the sidewalk was cracked or broken and the city failed to enact proper repairs in a timely manner, they could be found liable for your injuries.
Document Your Injuries
When you are involved in a slip and fall accident on a Los Angeles sidewalk, you should receive medical treatment as soon as possible. Whether you are injured severely enough to require emergency transportation to a hospital or schedule an appointment with your family doctor, it’s crucial to have your injuries documented by medical personnel. By doing so, you will have evidence that your injuries were indeed caused by your slip and fall accident. This can be crucial to your personal injury case, since if you fail to get medical treatment in a timely manner, insurance companies and opposing attorneys may attempt to prove you are faking injuries, or the injuries you sustained were not a result of your sidewalk slip and fall.
Photos and Contact Information
If at all possible, take photos of the sidewalk on which you fell. Whether this is done by yourself or another person, always try to have photos of the exact area in which you fell. For example, if the sidewalk contained loose stones, broken pavement, potholes, or had trash or other debris gathered on it that caused your accident, pictures will play a significant role in your personal injury lawsuit. And along with pictures, always try to have names and contact information for any witnesses who saw you fall. By providing this information to your slip and fall attorney, you may greatly increase your chances of having a successful lawsuit.
Compensation for Your Injuries
Once you have talked with an attorney and the two of you have agreed to pursue a personal injury lawsuit, always discuss the compensation you hope to receive. In most slip and fall cases, victims seek to receive compensation for past, present, and future medical expenses linked to the fall, lost income from being unable to work, property damage for clothing, jewelry, or other items damaged as a result of the fall, pain and suffering due to the injuries, and in some cases punitive damages, especially if it appears extreme negligence caused your fall.
Consult an Attorney
If you have been the victim of a slip and fall accident on a Los Angeles sidewalk, don’t hesitate to contact an experienced and knowledgeable slip and fall attorney as soon as possible. By doing so, you will have the opportunity to discuss your case in great detail in a relaxed atmosphere. Rather than continue to lose income, worry about never-ending medical bills, and suffer from physical and emotional pain, let an attorney you trust make those who were negligent be held accountable for their actions.