Slip & Fall Attorney in Scottsdale
For most adults, slipping and falling in public can be beyond embarrassing. But, in some cases, falling because of things like an icy sidewalk or slippery floors at a store is not just embarrassing but also dangerous and can cause serious injuries and result in significant damage to the victim. So what should you do in this situation? Learn how slip-and-fall claims work in Arizona and see what a Scottsdale personal injury attorney can do to help you protect your rights as a slip and fall victim.
What Is Considered a Slip-And-Fall Accident in Arizona?
Property owners have the duty of keeping their premises safe and free of any potential hazards. When they fail to do so and overlook maintenance problems, cut corners on making proper repairs to their property, or even fail to provide enough security, they could create a dangerous condition that may cause someone to get hurt.
Slip-and-fall accidents are defined as any accident where a person slips or trips and falls on someone else’s private property due to hazardous conditions, such as wet floors, an uneven surface, a parking lot covered with snow and ice, or a defective staircase. A Scottsdale slip-and-fall accident is a kind of premises liability claim and is based on the idea that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. For instance, if you are injured in a grocery store due to a wet floor that was not marked with a warning sign, it could be considered a slip-and-fall accident, and you may be able to take legal action with our legal help for slip and fall injuries in Scottsdale.
What Do I Need to Prove in a Scottsdale Slip-And-Fall Case?
Slip-and-fall cases are considered a type of personal injury case. Because of that, the plaintiff is responsible for presenting enough evidence to show that their injuries and damages were a direct result of a negligent property owner. In other words, the burden of evidence in a personal injury case falls on the victim (the plaintiff).
That means you need to prove that the four basic negligence factors are applicable to your case. These four factors are duty of care, breach, causation, and damages. The plaintiff must show that the defendant had a duty to keep the property safe, that they breached that duty, that this breach was the cause of the plaintiff’s injury, and that the plaintiff suffered damages. For instance, if you were injured in a slip and fall accident in a store, you would need to show that the store had a duty to keep their floors safe, that they failed to do so, that this failure caused your injury, and that you suffered damages such as medical bills or lost wages as a result of the accident. This is one of the reasons why you may want to choose to hire a Scottsdale Slip and Fall Injury Attorney for your case, as your attorney can help you put together the evidence needed to support your claim.
How Can I Get Compensation for My Slip-And-Fall Accident in Scottsdale?
There are a few different options to obtain compensation for your losses in a slip-and-fall accident. The first option is to file an insurance claim if the property owner responsible for your accident has insurance coverage. For example, if your accident occurred in a private residence, the property owner’s homeowner insurance may likely provide coverage for slip-and-fall accidents. Alternatively, if your accident happened in a place of business such as a shopping mall, the company that owns the mall likely has liability insurance that could cover your accident.
The second option is to file a lawsuit for personal injury. This can be done when no insurance coverage is available or in situations where the insurance company refuses to accept your slip-and-fall claim. By filing a personal injury lawsuit, you have the chance to receive more money for your injuries, but you may need to wait a lot longer to receive your settlement when compared to your waiting time for an insurance claim check. Your attorney can advise you on the best course of action for your case.
How Much Money May I Be Eligible to Receive?
When you’ve been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be wondering how much your case may be worth. A quick search on the internet can yield countless websites with “personal injury calculators” that promise to tell you how much money you may get for your case. However, these tools are almost always inaccurate and often overestimate the value of your case or may even underestimate it in some cases. The best way to truly know how much money you may get is to speak to a skilled slip-and-fall lawyer who can analyze your case and give you a more accurate estimate.
That being said, the amount of money you may be eligible to receive depends on the extent of your injuries and other losses incurred as a result of the accident. The court or insurance company will take into account medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages, such as pain and suffering when determining your settlement amount. In general, the more severe your injuries and the more significant your damages, the higher your case value may be. Each case is unique, so it is best to talk to an attorney about the specifics of your claim.
If you are looking for legal help for your slip-and-fall case in Scottsdale, contact the Wilson Ortiz Law Firm. Attorney Annalis Ortiz has helped countless clients secure the compensation they deserve after a Scottsdale slip and fall injury, and she is ready to help you fight back to protect your rights as a slip-and-fall victim. Contact the Wilson Ortiz Law Firm at 623-294-1442 and request a no-commitment case analysis to get started.