Slip & Fall Injuries

Slip and fall incidents account for approximately 15 percent of all accidental deaths that occur in the United States each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Slip and fall injuries represent the second most common type of injury, second only to those caused by automobile accidents. These statistics hold true across the state of California, including in the San Mateo area. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, you need to understand your legal rights and interests. This includes your right to retain experienced slip and fall attorneys to represent these interests.

Compensation for Slip and Fall Injuries

Potential compensation in a slip and fall case are governed by the facts surrounding the accident coupled with the nature and extent of the injuries you sustain. With that noted, slip and fall injury attorneys typically fight on behalf of their clients to obtain compensation, that includes:

• Medical Bills and Expenses
• Pain and Suffering
• Lost Wages
• Permanent Injuries
• Permanent Disability
• Permanent Disfigurement
• Mental Anguish and Emotional Distress

In addressing slip and fall injuries, you likely are entitled to compensation for future losses you reasonable can be expected to face in the future. For example, your medical care and treatment associated with the accident and your injury may carry on indefinitely. You may require physical and occupational therapy, for example. You may endure chronic pain associated with the injury. You may not be able to return to work any time soon. Indeed, you may not be able to ever return to the type of employment you enjoyed before the accident. All of these represent the types of ongoing injuries, losses, and damages for which you are entitled to appropriate compensation. In addition, you may be entitled to what are known as punitive or exemplary damages. Punitive damages are awarded in a slip and fall lawsuit when the conduct of the party causing the accident is considered particularly reckless. Punitive damages are designed to provide you additional compensation. In addition, punitive or exemplary damages are designed to serve as a punishment to the party causing the accident because of particularly egregious or reckless conduct.

Attorney Fees in a Slip and Fall Case

As a general rule, slip and fall attorneys utilize a contingency fee arrangement with clients. What this means is that you do not pay a legal fee unless and until your lawyer obtains a favorable settlement or judgment for you in your case. The fee will be an agreed to percentage of a settlement or judgment obtained by your attorney. The fee agreement is entered into at the beginning of the period of representation.

Retain Slip and Fall Attorneys

The first step in retaining a lawyer in a slip and fall accident case is scheduling what is known as an initial consultation. At an initial consultation, a slip and fall lawyer provides you an overview of your case. This includes a discussion of strategies that will best protect your interests, and obtain the compensation you deserve in your case. Not only does an attorney evaluate your case during an initial consultation, you have the chance to do your own evaluation of a lawyer. You can find out more about a lawyer's practice, experience, and background during the course of an initial consultation. You also have the opportunity to get answers to any questions you may have about your case. As a general rule, a slip and fall accident lawyer does not charge a fee for an initial consultation to review and discuss your case.

If your loved one sustained an injury resulting in a wrongful death, contact us.