Many people think of slip and fall accidents as the subjects of funny Youtube videos or TV shows. Often however, these incidents are no laughing matter. In fact, they are one of the main reasons for visits to the emergency room, and can often result in serious injuries.
Slip and fall attorney Gary R. Johnson has been representing people injured in trip, slip or fall cases for over 20 years. He has successfully settled and tried many personal injury lawsuits, and is ready to help you.
Gary is an excellent slip and fall attorney. I have known him for years. He has always been the consummate professional. He is well prepared and knowledgeable. His experience as a defense attorney will definitely assist clients in his current role as a plaintiff attorney. I highly recommend him.”
– Matt Rizzo, Google Review
What you do after a slip and fall accident can impact your claim. Slip and fall victims are often upset or embarrassed because they fell. You may even try to apologize for falling. Don’t do it!
If you have a slip and fall accident, remain calm and follow these steps so you don’t jeopardize your potential case:
If the accident happened at a store or business, the store manager will probably have you fill out an accident report, documenting the incident. Be careful what you write and request a copy.
Closely look around the area where you fell to find out what caused you to fall. Take photos and get witnesses’ contact information. Do not rely on the business owner to do so.
Ask the property or store owner if the area where you fell has video surveillance, and request for a copy of the video. It’s likely they will refuse.
Sometimes you won’t feel the effects of your injury until the next day. But even if you don’t feel any pain, visit a local urgent care clinic.
A doctor can provide a professional diagnosis of any injuries caused by the fall, in writing. Here in Central Oregon, there are several urgent care clinics where you can get treated for your injuries promptly.
Ask the property owner whether they have MedPay or Medical Premises insurance coverage as part of their Commercial General Liability insurance (or CGL). It may help pay your medical bills and/or the out-of-pocket expenses you incur for co-payments and deductibles under your health insurance policy.
Proving that the property owner or operator was liable for causing your fall can be difficult. That’s why it’s so important to consult an experienced slip and fall attorney. The possessor of land has different duties depending on whether you were a customer (invitee), visitor (licensee) or trespasser.
If you were a customer, the property owner or operator has to keep the premises “reasonably safe” for your visit, and must act reasonably to discover hazardous conditions. Once the possessor discovers a hazardous condition, they must fix it or warn you about it.
Read our blog post on Slip and Fall Cases: How Much Settlement Payout Can You Get?
Slip and fall accidents – also called “premises liability accidents” – often happen in commercial settings including:
Slip and fall accidents are caused by many different hazards including:
Gary R. Johnson knows how slip and fall accidents can impact your life, including:
Slip and fall accidents can even result in death, and in these cases, Gary R. Johnson represents the victim’s loved ones in the resulting wrongful death claim.
