How To Build a Strong Slip and Fall Lawsuit
Slip and fall accidents might not seem like serious injury claims, but we know the truth. That's because our law firm won the largest slip and fall verdict ever – $16.4 million – for someone injured in a slip and fall in Clark County, Nevada, where Las Vegas is located.
So, what do you need to do to build a strong slip and fall injury claim or lawsuit? What are the elements of a successful legal case? Below, you can learn more about exactly what to do after a slip and fall.
If you were injured in a Las Vegas slip and fall on someone else's property — whether it was a hotel, casino, bar, restaurant, or parking garage — contact our law firm immediately to find out if you have a case.
What are the elements of a strong slip and fall case?
To have a strong slip and fall injury claim or successful lawsuit, certain situations and conditions must apply (in most cases).
First, you must prove that a dangerous condition on someone else's property caused your slip and fall. This means:
- A dangerous condition existed on the property that directly caused your injury. For example, you can't fall down a flight of stairs and claim you were hurt because of a wet floor on the other side of the building. Your injury needs to be a direct result of the hazardous condition.
- The property owner knew or should have known about this dangerous or hazardous condition.
- The property owner did not attempt to fix or repair this dangerous condition.
Second, you need proof that you sustained a severe injury due to your slip, trip, or fall. How do you do this? Below, you can read more about some of the most critical steps to building a strong legal case.
What to do after a fall
There are many steps you should take as soon as possible after a slip and fall, including:
Gather evidence
If you are healthy enough to do so, gather evidence at the scene of your accident. The more evidence you have supporting your injury claim, the stronger your legal case will be. Such evidence can include:
- Photos of where you slipped and fell. The sooner you can take such pictures, the better. Otherwise, the dangerous conditions that caused your slip and fall accident might not be there if you wait too long to take a photo. For example, if a loose handrail caused you to fall down stairs, you should get a picture of the handrail before the property owner rushes to fix it and your case becomes a "he-said, she-said" situation.
- The actual object you slipped or tripped on. Take the object with you if it's small enough (perhaps a piece of food or a chunk of broken pavement). Again, physical evidence can help strengthen your legal case.
- Statements from someone who saw your accident. Ensure you get the witness's full name and phone number so investigators can interview them later.
- Video footage of your slip and fall accident. If you slipped and fell in a public place like a parking garage, hotel, or casino, there may be security video footage of your accident. Not sure how to get this footage? Call our law firm. We know what to do and can demand access to such security footage before it's overwritten, deleted, or conveniently comes up missing.
See a doctor
Seek immediate medical attention. You sustained an injury, so you need to have a doctor examine you immediately to diagnose and document any potential injuries. Depending on the severity of your injury, your medical care may involve several different steps, including:
- Diagnose your medical condition. This is what doctors do. They find out exactly what's wrong with you by running diagnostic medical tests, including X-Rays, MRIs, or CT-Scans.
- Provide emergency medical care if necessary, including emergency surgery.
- Provide follow-up medical care in many instances. Many injuries can have long-term medical consequences.
Just as important, make sure you take your doctor's advice. If you don't, your medical condition might not improve or may even get worse. It can also compromise your injury claim. If you fail to follow your doctor's advice for treatment, the insurance company may question your injury's severity.
Call a slip and fall lawyer.
You don't need to find your own evidence, build your own case, deal with the insurance company, and fight for the compensation you're entitled to alone. Instead, get a slip and fall accident attorney who can step in, handle everything, and look out for your best interests throughout every step of the legal process. A lawyer can help you in many different ways, including but not limited to the following:
- Conduct an in-depth investigation of your slip and fall and secure evidence supporting your claim.
- Demand access to video footage of your accident if such footage is available. Remember, this type of footage tends to disappear without quick intervention by an attorney.
- Deal directly with insurance companies on your behalf. Insurance adjusters often prey on regular people who have been injured because they know you most likely have no idea what the actual value of your claim is. They will tell you that you don't need to get an attorney involved because they know a lawyer will fight for every dollar you deserve, which threatens the insurance company's profits.
- Negotiate the best possible settlement claim with the at-fault party, which is often the property owner's insurance company. Again, a lawyer can accurately tally the cost of your losses, from medical bills and lost wages to replacement services and pain and suffering.
- If necessary, file a slip and fall accident lawsuit on your behalf seeking damages, the legal term for financial compensation. Sometimes the only way to get an insurance company to play fair is to take them to court. That's why it's always in your interest to seek legal help from an attorney who isn't afraid to take a case to trial.
Lasso Injury Law knows how to help.
Having an experienced attorney on your side who knows how to deal with slip and fall injury claims in Clark County can make a significant difference in the outcome of your legal case. At Lasso Injury Law, LLC, attorney Al Lasso and his highly skilled legal team have a reputation for getting substantial results in Las Vegas.
Our law firm is caring and compassionate, and we will treat you with the respect and professionalism you deserve. In addition, we offer legal representation on a contingency fee basis. That means there are no out-of-pocket costs, and you pay no fees unless we secure a financial settlement or court verdict for you.
Find out if you have a case and learn more about your legal options. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced slip and fall attorney from our Las Vegas law office.