Slip and fall accidents are some of the most common causes of personal injury in the United States. A slip and fall accident can happen anywhere, at any time — from the grocery store in Farmington, Utah to the workplace, public property or private homes and apartments.
As your lawyer will inform you, the specifics of your particular case can differ widely from location to location. For instance, if you experience a slip and fall accident at a large grocery store chain, you may have to file an official notice, either by writing a slip and fall accident report or by calling a company phone service to report the incident. On the flip side, a slip and fall accident at a local small business most likely will not require an official accident report.
The location of a slip and fall accident affects a number of factors; from the preventative measures the defendant was reasonably expected to have taken to the particular individuals involved in the claim. For instance, a large hotel chain would be expected to respond to potentially unsafe conditions within a short period of time, whereas an individual homeowner in Farmington would not be subject to such expectations.
The location of a slip and fall accident even has an effect on who you file a lawsuit against. If an accident occurs in the vicinity of a rental apartment building, either the tenant or the landlord could be held liable. If you are injured while walking through public property in Farmington, the local government could be held liable; claims against government entities are notoriously difficult to prosecute; however, and one should not proceed without the assistance of a lawyer.
With so many differences based on location, slip and fall accident cases can be confusing to pursue on your own. If you or a family member has been injured in a slip and fall situation, look to your local personal injury lawyer for valuable legal counsel.