Many enjoy watching TV programs that portray slip and falls and trip and falls as funny incidents. However, a slip and fall accident is far from being a laughing matter, especially for the victim or his or her loved ones. If you have slipped and fell onto a hard floor or surface, then it could bring about broken bones, head trauma, injuries to your neck, back and shoulder, and even demise. When this accident happens, occasionally, it can be because of the person’s clumsiness; in some cases, however, someone else is at fault for it. Keep reading to learn when this form of accident could be regarded as a case of wrongful death. For an uninitiated, the term “wrongful death” means one that is caused by the negligent or deliberate act of the at-fault party.
A slip and fall incident most commonly occurs in restaurants and stores somewhere in the state of California. A customer dropping a glass jar with juice or food or a waiter spilling some water and having it splattered everywhere is not an uncommon situation. When this occurs, workers have to take immediate action to address the matter. The longer a liquid spill is left unaddressed, the likelier somebody will slip on the surface and will have a serious physical injury. If a worker’s negligence caused the slip and fall, the injured person’s family could sue the property owner.
A guest can sue a homeowner when he or she trips or slips while in the latter’s residence. However, the house owner must have previously been aware of the condition of whatever it is that brought about the accident. If the homeowner negligently fails to clean up their floor spill, for instance, and sees that many guests have almost fallen after slipping upon it, they could be held legally responsible for injuries caused by the consequent fall.
A trip and fall could also occur when one is walking on a broken sidewalk. A crack on it could cause him or her to trip. When this occurs, the injured victim’s family could even take legal action against the city, because cities also have a duty of care to keep their sidewalks free of any defect. In this situation, one has to follow certain deadlines and requirements, so it is always best to seek advice from an attorney.