Statistics and Common Causes of Los Angeles Trip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall may happen anytime, and under any condition, it may result in serious physical injuries. In a study by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is estimated that at least one million Americans get involved in trip and fall accidents each year. Furthermore, CDC also reported that fall are accounted for more than 19,000 deaths in the country annually.

Just like other forms of accidents, slip and fall occur because of certain conditions, such as torn carpeting, changes in flooring, poor lighting on roads, or wet floors. Other contributing factors in a trip and fall accident include:

• Sidewalks with debris and hazards like potholes
• Broken stairs
• Defective lighting on surroundings
• Slippery flooring
• Failure of a property owner to warn people of hazardous conditions
• Failure of premises owner to repair present hazardous conditions
• Poorly designed wheelchair ramps

Because slip and fall may happen anywhere, there are circumstances that an individual may be injured in a trip and fall mishap in another person’s property. In such case, victims together with Los Angeles trip and fall accident lawyers may assert for compensation claim against the property owner if he failed to take all necessary means to prevent the incident from happening.  

Although tort law and premises liability law are in effect in the State of California, a property owner may not be sued if the victim of the slip and fall mishap is a trespasser. In legal sense, a “trespasser” is someone who enters or stays on a property without the permission of the owner or the possessor’s authority.

Another limitation for slip and fall accident claim is related to workers’ compensation laws. If a worker gets injured while performing his work duties and he gets involved in a trip and fall mishap, he may obtain workers’ compensation from his employer. In case that the trip and fall victim obtain compensation from his employer, he may be prohibited from filing a suit against the company.

If you get injured in a slip and fall accident in Los Angeles, it is highly advisable for you to seek legal assistance from expert Los Angeles trip and fall accident lawyers. Slip and fall mishap attorneys are personal injury law experts who know how to deal with the complicated issues related in pursuing an injury claim.