Paul CaputoEvery time we enter either public or private property with permission, we have the right to expect that the property owner has taken appropriate measures to ensure that our visit will be free from accidents caused by avoidable hazards. Unfortunately, there are plenty of times when appropriate caution hasn’t been exercised and someone slips or trips and falls due to a hazard. A slip and fall accident can lead to serious injuries like brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken or fractured bones, as well as other devastating consequences for the victim.
Fortunately, there is a legal process to seek compensation for negligence through a premises liability claim against the owner, possessor, maintainer, or manager of a property. The process of dealing with an insurance company and working to get fair compensation is complicated — especially while trying to deal with the recovery process.
Insurance companies focus on settling claims for their policyholders as cheaply as possible, typically at the expense of the victim. When victims work with an experienced personal injury lawyer in San Jose throughout the process, insurers know that they won’t be able to rely on intimidation tactics and attempts to overwhelm the claimant with legal documents to manipulate them into accepting a low settlement offer.
Contact Caputo & Van Der Walde – Injury and Accident Attorneys Today for a Free Consultation
The team at Caputo & Van Der Walde – Injury and Accident Attorneys offers a free initial consultation with an experienced San Jose slip and fall attorney. We can take the time to get a clear understanding of the situation and then provide advice on how best to move forward with your personal injury claim.
As you look towards the future of your care, possible mounting lost wages, growing medical expenses, and other issues, connecting with a team of slip, trip, and fall lawyers in San Jose can give you peace of mind knowing that someone is willing to help you.
While it may seem simple enough to file a claim with the property owner’s insurance company and wait for an offer, the reality is much more complex. Personal injury law is complicated, and insurance companies will use this to their advantage when dealing with a slip, trip, and fall accident victim.
Read more about slip, trip, and fall accidents below, and contact Caputo & Van Der Walde – Injury and Accident Attorneys to request your free consultation today.
What Is a Slip, Trip, and Fall Accident?
As the name implies, a slip, trip, and fall accident is exactly that — a premises liability issue where someone visits another’s property and encounters a hazard or danger that causes them to slip, trip, and fall.
A property owner is liable for the conditions on their property, and if the property owner breached their duties to the visitor and allowed them to encounter a dangerous area that caused an accident, they may be held liable.
Whether your slip and fall happened on private property, a public area, or a government-owned property, you have rights as a legal visitor that experienced slip and fall attorneys can help you understand.
Common Types of Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents
The following are just a few of the different ways that someone can slip and fall due to a dangerous condition on someone else’s property. Whether or not you see your own type of accident addressed below, contact our law firm right away to discuss your situation and learn about how we can help you move forward with your case.
If the property owner knew or should have known about the condition and failed to provide you with an adequate warning, you deserve compensation.
Wet or Slippery Floors
We are all familiar with the ubiquitous wet floor signs in front of bathrooms and grocery aisles. These signs are meant to alert visitors to a hazard, but there are plenty of times when we may encounter a slick surface without a warning.
These could be caused by leaks in plumbing or through a roof, a spill that hasn’t been addressed, or countless other reasons — but the fact is that the owner failed to provide you with reasonably safe premises and you fell as a result.
Uneven Sidewalks and Foot Paths
Walking along a path, especially in low light or inclement weather, can lead to a serious fall injury if the surface is not properly maintained and is full of holes, cracks, bumps, or other problems. Inadequate lighting along these walkways can further complicate matters.
If you have suffered a slip, trip, and fall injury, our law office can help you make sense of your situation and determine who we can pursue compensation.
Loose Carpeting
Carpeting on floors and stairs should be secured to the surface they are on, and bunched or loose areas must be addressed immediately. A ripple in a carpet can cause a visitor to trip headfirst and suffer serious injuries as a result.
Dangerous Stairways
Many slip and fall cases stem from hazardous conditions in stairways such as loose threads, missing handrails, inadequate lighting, or steps that do not meet building codes. Whatever the reason for your San Jose slip and fall in a stairway, we will work to gather evidence and prove that your injuries were the result of someone else’s negligence in their failure to warn visitors or address the hazard.
Caputo & Van Der Walde – Injury and Accident Attorneys Is Here to Help
The sooner you contact our San Jose slip and fall law firm, the sooner you can work with an attorney who will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Your medical bills, lost income, cost of ongoing medical care, and countless other losses are important damages that you are entitled to recover from the at-fault party or their insurance company.
Contact us today to request a free consultation with an experienced San Jose slip, trip, and fall lawyer and learn all about the support that we can provide you during this difficult time.