Sidewalks provide space for people to walk while shopping or just enjoying a stroll. However, sometimes that stroll can turn into a nightmare if you trip over a chunk of a turned up or uneven sidewalk, and fall. Sidewalk accidents are more serious than you may realize. A cracked sidewalk is one of the leading causes of fall accidents every year. Whether you fell on public or private property, the city, property owner or business owner should be held accountable for the dangerous situation they caused.

Most fall-related injuries can be avoided with proper sidewalk maintenance. When an injury does occur, it can be serious. The victim will eventually want to know if they are going to get compensated for their medical bills, lost time from work and all the pain and difficulty that came with the injury. If you’ve unfortunately found yourself in this situation, you need an injury lawyer who will go the distance for you after a sidewalk accident.

Proving negligence for sidewalk falls is not always easy. You must provide evidence of the sidewalk defect, your lost income, medical expenses, the dangerous condition the accident left you in, and more. You also must prove the wrongdoing, or negligence, on behalf of the city, business owner or private property owner.

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The right personal injury lawyer will fight for your right to lost income reimbursement, reimbursement for the cost of your medical care and physical injuries, and will also fight to ensure the negligent party is held liable for the accident they allowed to occur. Read on to learn more about how our Los Angeles law firm can help you recover the cost of your economic damages and non-economic damages after sidewalk accidents.

Creation of a Hazard

Sidewalk accidents happen every day. For this reason, every retail outlet has a duty to keep its premises safe for those coming onto their property. This always includes the sidewalk in front of their store. California law states that a sidewalk injury hazard or dangerous condition is created in two ways:

  1. The owner created the sidewalk accident hazard through negligent maintenance or other means, or
  2. The owner knew, or should have known of a sidewalk accident  hazard and did nothing (or did something inadequate) to fix the condition.

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If the owner caused the problem by faulty or negligent repair, or they knew of the hazard and did nothing, then anyone hurt as a result will have a claim against the owner for negligence. For example, let’s say a restaurant has a defective sidewalk out front. Knowing sidewalk accidents can occur easily, they should, at the least, place a caution sign over the cracked sidewalk so no one gets hurt. Better yet, they should repair the defective sidewalk to mitigate the risk of a sidewalk accident happening. But if the restaurant pays no mind to the issue, therefore being negligent with the maintenance of their property, they can be held liable for the accident they cause since they are the property owner,

If you ever find yourself in this situation, just know that our personal injury lawyers have the skill and experience to fight on your behalf. Broken bones, brain injuries, and spinal injuries are quite serious and common after sidewalk accidents. When a Los Angeles property owner fails to uphold their duty of care, and a fall accident occurs, proving negligence is the most important next step. Our team has experience proving negligence in sidewalk falls, and will work hard to pursue reimbursement for your economic and non economic damages.

Defenses to a Negligent Maintenance

California law also allows the store owner to show that either they didn’t create the hazard (such as a sidewalk defect), or the hazard came up and they fixed it at a reasonable time. The key here is reasonable. How much time is reasonable? The law doesn’t specify, it just looks at what a typical, prudent landowner would do under the same or similar circumstances.

After a sidewalk accident, the owner of the property will be scrambling to find a defense for their negligence. But, due to our experience with personal injury claims of this nature, we know how to fight back against these defenses, defending your sustained injuries and holding the negligent party accountable.

Sidewalk Injuries

As lawyers who handle many personal injury cases per year, we know any sidewalk accident can produce serious injuries, especially to the elderly or those in poor health to begin with.

Some of the common serious injuries that can happen from a sidewalk accident are:

  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Broken Bones
  • Broken Wrists
  • Shattered Kneecaps
  • Broken Hip
  • Broken Collarbone
  • Twisted Ankle
  • Road Rash

What Kind of Expenses Can A Sidewalk Injury Attorney in Van Nuys Fight For?

If you’ve suffered a serious injury from a sidewalk accident, personal injury attorneys can help you navigate the legal process to secure compensation. Compensation can include both economic and non-economic damages after the sidewalk accident. A successful personal injury claim can cover:

Medical expenses: Reimbursement for medical expenses includes costs for immediate emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, medication, physical therapy, ongoing medical treatments, and any necessary medical equipment. If you’ve suffered broken bones, brain injuries, spinal injuries or any other physical injuries, we’ll fight for your right to money to cover these expenses.

Lost wages: Compensation for the income lost during recovery time, including any future earnings if the injury impacts your long-term ability to work. A sidewalk accident can leave you out of work for many months – we’ll make sure you don’t miss out on cash in your paycheck.

Pain and suffering: Property owners need to be held accountable for the emotional distress that can be caused by a sidewalk accident. We aim to fight for financial reparation for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the serious injury, acknowledging the profound impact on your quality of life.

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Rehabilitation costs: If you’ve been injured on a defective sidewalk, you may need long term rehabilitation. We help our clients get coverage for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and any other rehabilitation services needed to aid their recovery and regain functionality after sidewalk accidents.

Property damage: Personal injury claims also fight for reimbursement for any personal items that were damaged or destroyed during the sidewalk accident, such as clothing, electronics, or other personal belongings. Ask our law firm if this applies to your case.

With the expertise of personal injury attorneys, you can ensure all aspects of your sidewalk accident are addressed and compensated.

How Much Does It Cost To Speak With A Personal Injury Attorney In Van Nuys?

Our personal injury attorney team works on contingency fees. When a lawyer works on contingency fees, it means we only get paid if they win the case. Clients don’t have to pay any money out of pocket when hiring us as their personal injury attorney for sidewalk accidents, as our team covers the costs of the case and will only be reimbursed if we win.

The lawyer’s fee is typically a percentage of the settlement or award, agreed upon before the lawyer takes on the case. This arrangement shares the financial risk between the lawyer and the client; if the lawyer doesn’t win, the client usually doesn’t owe anything for their services. This structure motivates us to win or secure the best possible settlement for sidewalk accidents.

Contingency fees make legal representation more accessible to accident victims who may not be able to afford to pay a personal injury attorney upfront. They’re common in car accident and other personal injury cases, aligning the interests of the client and the legal team.

How Much Is Your Settlement Worth?

Schedule a completely free, no obligation consultation with our team

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What Should Injured Victims Do After Sidewalk Accidents?

After experiencing a sidewalk accident, it’s crucial to take specific steps to protect your health and legal rights. As your personal injury law team, our expert would recommend the following:

Seek medical attention: Your health and safety come first. Even if injuries seem minor, it’s essential to get a medical evaluation. Some injuries may not be immediately apparent. This is why our injury lawyers recommend getting evaluated by a medical professional right away.

Report the accident: Inform local authorities or the owner of the property about the incident. Ensure an official report is made, as this will be important for any claim.

Gather evidence: Document the scene of the accident. Take photographs of the location, any hazards that caused the fall, and any injuries. Collect contact information from any witnesses.

Keep records: Maintain detailed records of medical treatments, expenses, and any missed work due to the injuries. This documentation will be crucial in proving the extent of the damages.

Avoid making statements: Do not discuss the accident with insurance companies or sign any documents without consulting a lawyer. Anything said could be used against you in the claim.

Consult a personal injury lawyer: Contact a personal injury attorney who specializes in sidewalk accidents. They can provide the legal guidance needed to navigate the complexities of the case and help seek the compensation deserved.

Following these steps ensures that rights are protected and increases the chances of a successful claim.

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How Much Does It Cost To Speak With Personal Injury Lawyers?

Our personal injury lawyers don’t charge for an initial consultation. Your free case evaluation is the best place to ask questions and determine if you have a personal injury claim or not. Property owners must be held accountable for any sidewalk accidents they caused, and it’s our job to help you. We’re experts in California law and will fight on behalf of you and your sidewalk accident to ensure you make a full medical and financial recovery. If you have been injured in a sidewalk accident, schedule a free consultation with a trusted injury lawyer from our law firm.

Call a Premises Liability Attorney Today

The best thing to do when injured in a sidewalk fall accident is to talk to Premises Liability Attorney to begin the legal process of holding the property owner accountable. Even if you don’t hire one, you owe it to yourself to be advised of the law by an impartial professional. If you decide to get representation, choose someone who is experienced and understands the law.

Call the Law Offices of Steers & Associates at 800 824 5416 or click here to contact us online about your sidewalk accident in Los Angeles. We have attorneys with years of experience dealing with car accident cases, physical injuries, and premises liability accidents, and we get results against the insurance companies and their highly-paid lawyers. Call us now to even the playing field and get the compensation you deserve.

 

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