A slip and fall accident can happen in seconds and affect you for months or even years. Whether you slipped on a wet floor at a grocery store, tripped on uneven pavement outside a casino, or fell due to poor lighting in a parking garage, the injuries can be serious.
Broken bones, head trauma, spinal injuries, and torn ligaments can leave you unable to work, struggling with daily tasks, and facing mounting medical bills.
When your fall happens on someone else’s property due to their negligence, Nevada law allows you to seek compensation. Property owners have a legal duty to maintain safe conditions for visitors, and when they fail to do so, they should be held accountable.
At Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC, our Nevada slip and fall attorneys have recovered more than $600 million for our clients, including $1.2 million for a slip and fall injury.
We understand how these cases work, what evidence is needed to prove negligence, and how to maximize your recovery.
Contact us today at (702) 382-9797 for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Table of Contents
- Do You Need a Slip and Fall Attorney in Nevada?
- Slip and Fall Accidents: The Aftermath
- What Happens During Your Claim?
- What damages can you claim after a slip and fall accident?
- Who bears responsibility for your injuries?
- Why You Need a Nevada Personal Injury Attorney
Do You Need a Slip and Fall Attorney in Nevada?
Working with a lawyer can help you increase your total compensation, as well as ensure that you receive valuable legal advice that can help you avoid snares that may decrease your compensation.
Not only that, a lawyer can help negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, freeing up your time to focus on your recovery and making the necessary changes for others to be protected from accidents like yours.
Slip and Fall Accidents: The Aftermath
After a slip and fall accident, you may find yourself facing several common types of injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injury, including ongoing disorientation, difficulty regulating emotions, or difficulting with comprehension
- Spinal cord damage, including limited mobility or even paralysis
- Broken bones, especially hip fractures or knee injuries
- Soft tissue damage that, in many cases, can cause more long-term pain and suffering than broken bones
What Happens During Your Slip & Fall Claim?
After a slip and fall accident, working with a lawyer can help you better understand Nevada premises liability law and the claims process, from communicating with the insurance company to taking the case to court if needed. Understanding the answers to these key questions, however, can help provide you with peace of mind.
What damages can you claim after a slip and fall accident?
To claim damages from a slip and fall accident, you must first prove that you suffered injuries in the slip and fall. The amount you receive will vary depending on factors like how badly you were injured and the extent of your insurance policy; however, most people claim the following:
- Medical expenses from the accident
- Pain and suffering, including the need to miss out on activities that once brought pleasure
- Lost wages due to missed time at work
- Lost earning potential when your slip and fall accident permanently prevents you from returning to your previous employment
Who bears responsibility for your injuries?
In a slip and fall accident, generally, you assume that the owner of the premises where you fell bears responsibility for your injuries. However, your lawyer will ask several key questions to help determine liability, including the following:
- Did the premises owner fail to properly maintain the area? This might include repairing flooring or keeping up with the sidewalk outside the shop.
- Did the premises owner offer reasonable safety precautions? This includes installing handrails and guard rails as required by OSHA, as well as ensuring simple precautions, like offering wet floor signs if employees recently washed the floor or customers tracked water inside.
- Did employees clean up any spills promptly?
- Did employees allow trip hazards to remain in the aisles?
- Did you contribute in some way to your injury? This might include horsing around in the store, rather than behaving normally, or entering an area that was clearly marked for employees only. If you contributed to your accident in some way, the insurance company may decrease your total compensation amount based on the percentage of responsibility that you bear.
Will the insurance company fight the claim?
In some cases, personal injury claims move smoothly through the insurance company. In others, however, the insurance company may attempt to fight the claim. Often, insurance companies use familiar methods to reduce their financial obligations, including:
- The company may issue a settlement offer immediately after the accident. This offer often fails to include all of your medical costs or full consideration of your pain and suffering. If you sign this offer, it also may prevent you from receiving any compensation for future costs.
- The company may attempt to prove that your injuries existed prior to your slip and fall or were made worse by a pre-existing condition.
- The company may attempt to prove that you caused your own injuries, whether because you entered a location closed to the public or because you chose to engage in horseplay.
- The company may try to claim that you exaggerated your injuries or that they limit you less than you actually claim. They may attempt to catch you participating in activities your injuries should theoretically cause you to limit or avoid.
Why You Need a Nevada Personal Injury Attorney
If you suffered serious injuries in a Nevada slip and fall accident, do not wait to contact an attorney. The sooner you have an attorney on your side, the sooner he or she can start working for you by collecting evidence, negotiating with the insurance company, and providing you with valuable support as you file your claim. If you need a qualified, experienced personal injury attorney after a slip and fall accident, call Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC today at (702) 382-9797, or contact us online.
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