When you’re injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, you could suffer debilitating injuries and unexpected medical bills. Severe injuries sustained in a slip and fall might leave you unable to work and support your family. If you were injured in a slip and fall accident in Sandy, Utah, you need a slip and fall accident lawyer from London Harker Injury Law on your side.

As you recover from your injuries, your London Harker Injury Law attorney will work hard to seek the compensation you need to get you back on your feet as soon as possible. Call 77CARCRASH today to learn more about how we could help you in the aftermath of a slip and fall accident.

Who Is Liable in a Slip and Fall Accident?

Property owners owe a duty of reasonable care to those they invite onto their property. This means they must take reasonable measures to keep their property safe for guests, customers, and those individuals who lawfully enter their property. Under Utah law, there are three types of visitors to a property: invitees, licensees, and trespassers.

A property owner owes each of these visitors a different duty of care. Invitees, such as store customers, are owed the highest duty of care in that the owner must inspect their property with reasonable regularity and correct any known hazards. For licensees, who are non-business guests, a property owner has a duty to warn the licensee of any known hazard that isn’t obvious. Trespassers are not generally owed a duty of care, but the property owner could still be held liable for injuries caused by the property owner’s reckless or intentional conduct.

To recover compensation for injuries sustained in a slip and fall accident, you must prove that the property owner was negligent. Specifically, you must demonstrate that the property owner owed you a duty of care because you were lawfully on their property, they breached that duty by failing to properly maintain their property, their breach caused your fall, and you were injured and suffered losses as a direct result.

Examples of dangerous property conditions that often result in slip and fall accidents include:

Potholes
Wet floors due to spilled liquids
Icy surfaces
Poor lighting
Lack of handrails
Damaged stairs or escalators
Exposed wires
Defective, uneven sidewalks

What Evidence Do You Need to Establish Liability of the Property Owner?

A knowledgeable personal injury attorney from London Harker Injury Law will work quickly to gather the necessary evidence to prove the property owner’s liability. Evidence to support your case might include:

Initial accident reports
Medical records
Witness statements
Photographs or video of the accident scene
The clothing you wore at the time of the accident
Your wage statements, if you were required to miss work because of injury

By contacting an attorney as soon as possible after the accident, you will have legal representation from the outset of your case who can thoroughly investigate the accident, interview witnesses, and obtain documents and any available surveillance footage to assess liability. Your attorney will also request your medical records and bills to demonstrate your injuries from the fall and the cost of related medical treatment. If you are off work due to your injuries, your attorney will work with your employer to gather payroll and tax records to prove your financial losses.

Common Types of Slip and Fall Injuries

Slip and fall accidents account for a staggering one million emergency room visits each year. The medical treatment rendered to slip and fall accident victims varies depending on the accident’s severity. Some injuries require minimal medical intervention, while other injuries could require surgery and extensive physical therapy. Some of the common injuries sustained in slip and fall accidents are:

Broken bones – Broken bones often occur in slip and fall accidents. Such injuries include hip fractures, broken arms, and fractured wrists. Elderly accident victims are particularly susceptible to broken bones if they have osteoporosis. Bones can easily break if you try to catch yourself during the course of your fall.
Cuts and bruises – Although cuts and bruises are minor slip and fall injuries, they still may require medical treatment. The surface you fell on could cause deeper cuts or more significant bruising. Because bruises may not appear until a few days after the fall, you may not require immediate treatment, but a medical provider should evaluate your injuries.
Soft tissue injuries – Soft tissue injuries may appear a few days after a slip and fall accident. Even if you do not break a bone in the accident, you could still easily pull a muscle or suffer a sprain. Seek medical treatment if you experience pain or swelling after a slip and fall accident.
Traumatic brain injuries – A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most severe injuries you can sustain in a slip and fall accident. If you hit your head or experience headaches, blurred vision, or memory loss, among other symptoms, you should be evaluated for TBI, as early intervention to avoid further damage is critical.
Back injuries – Back injuries from slip and fall accidents can be devastating if they result in partial or total paralysis. Less severe back injuries could include herniated discs and chronic back pain.
Knee injuries – Knee injuries in slip and fall accidents are common because your knee can easily twist as you fall to the ground. Surgery may be necessary to correct any ligament tears. Physical therapy to regain strength is often required after knee surgery.
Chronic pain – After a slip and fall accident, you may experience pain that will not go away. Such ongoing pain can affect your ability to work and your overall quality of life. You may not be able to enjoy the activities you did before the accident.

Can I Recover Compensation for Injuries from My Slip and Fall Accident?

If you were injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, you could seek compensation for the losses related to your injuries. In a slip and fall accident case, you may be entitled to compensation for:

Medical expenses
If you were injured when you slipped and fell, you likely sought medical treatment. The medical bills from your treatment can include expenses related to emergency room care, surgery, and even physical therapy.
Lost wages
The injuries you sustain in a slip and fall accident may cause you to miss work. If you are off work due to your injuries, your attorney will calculate your lost income and request money to replace the income you would have earned if you could work.
Permanent impairment
If your injuries result in a permanent disability or loss of use of a body part or system, you could be entitled to compensation for that loss.
Pain and suffering
You could be compensated for the physical pain you endure while you recover from the injuries you suffered in your fall.
Emotional distress
Injuries from a slip and fall accident may not only affect you physically. They may also take a toll on your mental and emotional well-being. With severe injuries, some people develop anxiety or depression. These conditions could be related to the accident and might be compensable.

How Long Do I Have to File a Slip and Fall Accident Lawsuit In Utah?

The statute of limitations dictates the deadline for filing a lawsuit for your injuries and losses related to the slip and fall accident. Under Utah law, you must file a slip and fall injury lawsuit four years from the accident date. If you file your lawsuit after this time frame lapses, the court will likely dismiss your case as untimely filed. If that happens, you lose your opportunity to pursue compensation in court.

While four years may seem like a long time, it is best to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after a slip and fall accident. With an attorney on your side from the beginning, you can rest assured that they will timely file your lawsuit if a settlement can’t be reached in your slip and fall injury claim.

How Can a Sandy, Utah, Slip and Fall Lawyer Help?

An experienced slip and fall lawyer can assist in all aspects of your case. They will:

Explain your legal options
Stay in contact with you about the status of your case
Fully investigate the accident
Interview witnesses to obtain statements
Obtain your medical records
Handle all communications with the insurance company
Negotiate for a full and fair settlement
Take your case to trial if necessary

The attorneys at London Harker Injury Law understand that the legal process may be intimidating and stressful, especially when the insurance company pressures you to settle your case quickly. If the insurance company is unwilling to cooperate and resolve your claim, we will not hesitate to file a lawsuit.

Contact an Experienced Slip and Fall Lawyer in Sandy, Utah

At [firm name], we offer our clients the personal, one-on-one attention they deserve. We have extensive experience in personal injury claims, including slip and fall and trip and fall accidents. The lawyers at London Harker Injury Law are here to help you in the aftermath of an accident while you recover from your injuries. Call us today at 77CARCRASH for your free consultation.

Slip and Fall Lawyer in Sandy