Denver Slip and Fall Lawyer
Slip and fall accidents can result in severe injuries, ranging from multiple fractures to traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. Factors like uneven pavements, wet floors, loose rugs, broken staircases, inadequate lighting, and negligent maintenance contribute to an increased risk of slips, trips, and falls. These accidents can occur in grocery stores, restaurants, malls, hotels, hospitals, construction sites, public parks, and workplaces.
The experienced Denver premises liability attorneys at Smith & Weidinger can help you recover compensation by proving that the property owner, manager, or occupant was negligent in identifying and fixing potential hazards, which ultimately led to your serious injuries. The National Floor Safety Institute reports that 55% of all slip and fall accidents can be attributed to unsafe walking surfaces. These hazards include wet floors, faulty sidewalks, potholes, and torn carpeting.
Don’t shrug off your accident – get the compensation you are entitled to for your physical pain and emotional suffering with our skilled Denver personal injury attorney for slip and fall accidents.
How Can Smith & Weidinger Help with Your Slip and Fall Claim in Denver?
Key services provided by our Denver slip and fall attorneys include:
- Evidence investigation: Our fall injury attorneys conduct thorough investigations to gather evidence and establish liability.
- Witness interviews: Our Denver slip and fall lawyer will speak with witnesses to corroborate the circumstances surrounding the accident.
- Assessment of claim value: Our experienced Denver slip and fall lawyers carefully evaluate the extent of damages to determine the appropriate compensation.
- Pursuit of compensation: We will identify and pursue all available sources of compensation to maximize recovery in your fall injury claim in Denver.
- Representation in negotiations: Our slip and fall accident attorneys in Denver advocate for clients during settlement negotiations with insurance companies to obtain fair and just outcomes for their personal injury cases.
- Filing civil lawsuits: If necessary, we can file a civil premises liability lawsuit on behalf of the injured person to pursue legal remedies.
- Settlement facilitation: Our Denver slip and fall attorney will work towards achieving the highest possible settlements and resolve the personal injury claim efficiently.
Our slip and fall lawyer in Denver focuses on listening to our clients’ stories, addressing their concerns, and pursuing the financial compensation they require. We offer free consultations and operate on a contingency fee basis, ensuring our clients only pay legal fees if they recover financial compensation.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Claims in Denver
- Hazardous Walking Surfaces: Uneven pavements, wet floors, loose rugs, and defective sidewalks are common culprits in slip and fall incidents.
- Inadequate Lighting: Poorly lit areas increase the risk of accidents as individuals may not be able to see obstacles or hazards clearly.
- Negligent Maintenance: Failure to maintain premises, including neglecting to repair broken staircases or address potholes, can lead to slip and fall accidents.
- Spills and Debris: Unattended spills, debris, or objects left in walkways pose hazards and increase the likelihood of slips and falls.
- Weather Conditions: Adverse weather conditions such as ice, snow, or rain can create slippery surfaces, amplifying the risk of accidents.
- Lack of Warning Signs: Failure to provide adequate warning signs for potential hazards, such as wet floors or uneven surfaces, can contribute to slip and fall incidents.
- Unsafe Work Environments: In workplaces, cluttered walkways, electrical cords, and improper safety protocols can lead to slip and fall accidents.
Our Denver personal injury attorney for slip and fall accidents can file a premises liability case on your behalf. We will strongly negotiate with the defendant’s insurance company based on hard evidence to make sure you get maximum compensation for your injuries through a slip and fall accident claim.
Negligent Parties In a Slip and Fall Accident
At Smith & Weidinger, we understand that establishing the fault of multiple defendants in premises liability cases can improve the likelihood of higher compensation. These are a few parties that may be held liable for hazards that could cause slip and fall accidents:
- Commercial and Private Property Owners
- Property Managers
- Business Operators
- Contractors and Maintenance Companies
- Government Entities
- Manufacturers and Suppliers
- Security Companies
- Landlords
Our law firm in Denver employs a multi-faceted approach that combines knowledge of premises liability laws with a thorough understanding of the unique circumstances surrounding each case. Our attorneys use innovative strategies and cutting-edge resources to hold negligent property owners, managers, contractors, and other responsible parties accountable for breaching their legal duty.
Establishing Liability in Premises Liability Claims in Colorado
There are several key steps to establish a valid premises liability claim and determine responsibility for common injuries sustained on someone else’s property:
Duty of Care
The first step is to establish that the property owner or occupier owed a duty of care to the injured party. This duty typically involves maintaining the premises in a reasonably safe condition and warning visitors of any known hazards.
Breach of Duty
Next, it must be shown that the property owner breached this duty of care by either failing to address known hazards or by creating hazardous conditions through negligence.
Causation
It must then be demonstrated that the accident occurred because of the breach of duty, which directly caused the injuries suffered by the plaintiff. This involves showing that the hazardous condition was a substantial factor in causing the accident and resulting injuries.
Foreseeability
The plaintiff may also need to establish that the property owner could reasonably foresee that their actions or inactions could result in harm to others. This often involves demonstrating that the hazard was foreseeable and that the property owner failed to take reasonable steps to prevent injuries.
Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence system, which means that if the plaintiff is found to have contributed to their injuries, their recovery may be reduced in proportion to their degree of fault. Therefore, it is important that you get in touch with an experienced slip and fall attorney from Smith & Weidinger.
Insurers Undervalue Slip and Fall Claims in Denver
Assumption of Risk
Defendants may argue that the plaintiff was aware of the hazard and voluntarily assumed the risk of serious injury. Our attorneys will counter this defense by demonstrating that the hazard was unreasonably dangerous or that you had no reasonable alternative but to encounter it. Our Denver slip and fall attorney will also try to prove that you couldn’t possibly have known of the dangerous condition.
Comparative Negligence
The insurance company may allege that your negligence contributed to the injuries. Our slip and fall lawyer in Denver will address this argument by presenting evidence to minimize your degree of fault and emphasize the defendant’s primary responsibility to maintain a safe premises.
Lack of Notice
The insurance company may claim that the defendant was unaware of the hazardous condition and therefore cannot be held liable. Our attorneys will refute this defense by showing that the defendant either knew or should have known about the hazard through reasonable inspection and maintenance practices.
Open and Obvious Doctrine
The at-fault party may argue that the hazard was open and obvious, and therefore, they had no duty to warn the plaintiff. Our attorneys can challenge this argument by highlighting factors that may have obscured the hazard or distracted you and any other reasonable person from noticing it.
No Causation
The at-fault party’s lawyers may dispute the causal connection between the hazardous condition and the plaintiff’s injuries. Our personal injury lawyers will address this defense by presenting medical evidence and expert testimony to establish a clear link between the accident and your damages.
Pre-existing Conditions
The insurance adjusters may assert that your injuries were pre-existing or unrelated to the Colorado slip and fall accident. Our personal injury attorneys will thoroughly document your medical history and prove that the accident exacerbated or aggravated your existing conditions. In Colorado, the “thin skull” doctrine prevents an insurer from denying coverage or reducing damages if the accident makes a pre-existing condition worse.
Types of Evidence in Premises Liability Claims in Denver
In premises liability claims, our approach to proving liability hinges on leveraging available evidence to build a strong case. Here’s how our Denver slip and fall lawyer will use various types of evidence to establish liability:
- Incident Reports and Documentation: We thoroughly review incident reports, accident reports, maintenance records, and any documentation related to the accident to understand the circumstances leading up to it and identify potential hazards.
- Photographic and Video Evidence: We collect photographs and video footage of the accident scene, including the hazardous condition that caused the slip and fall accident injury, to provide visual documentation of the dangerous condition and its role in the accident.
- Witness Statements: We will interview eyewitnesses who observed the accident or were familiar with the hazardous condition to gather firsthand accounts and corroborate your version of events.
- Property Maintenance Records: We examine property maintenance records to determine whether the property owner or manager fulfilled their duty of care in inspecting and maintaining the premises to prevent hazards.
- Expert Testimony: We may engage expert witnesses, such as engineers, architects, or safety specialists, to provide professional opinions on the hazardous condition, its foreseeability, and the property owner’s negligence.
- Medical Records and Expert Opinions: We will obtain medical records and consult medical experts to establish a causal link between the hazardous condition and the plaintiff’s injuries, demonstrating how the accident directly resulted in harm. These experts can also help determine future medical expenses for a slip and fall injury.
- Prior Incidents and Notices: We investigate whether there were prior incidents, complaints, or slip and fall cases about similar hazards on the property. We will also determine whether the property owner had received notices or warnings about the dangerous condition.
- Building Codes and Regulations: We analyze building codes, safety regulations, and industry standards applicable to the property to assess whether the property owner complied with legal requirements and took reasonable precautions to prevent premises liability accidents.
We construct a compelling narrative of negligence and liability by carefully gathering and analyzing available evidence. Through strategic use of evidence, we try to hold negligent parties accountable and obtain maximum compensation for our clients in premises liability claims. You can count on us to help you get the compensation you need for your slip and fall injuries.
Potential Compensation for Slip and Fall Injury Victims in Denver
The damages available for slip and fall accident victims in Denver can vary widely depending on various factors, including the severity of the injuries, the extent of the damages suffered, and the circumstances of the case. In general, you may be entitled to seek compensation for:
- Medical Bills
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
- Disability and Impairment
- Property Damage
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
It is essential that you consult our qualified Denver personal injury attorney to assess the details of your slip and fall case and determine the potential compensation available.
How Our Insurance Industry Insights and Connects Help Your Case
Insight into Insurance Practices
Our connections provide us with valuable insights into the inner workings of insurance companies, including their claims processes, negotiation tactics, and settlement strategies. This insider knowledge allows us to anticipate the insurance company’s moves and develop effective counter-strategies to maximize our clients’ compensation.
Access to Key Decision Makers
Through our network, we have direct access to key decision-makers within insurance companies, including claims adjusters, supervisors, and executives. This direct line of communication enables us to fight more effectively on behalf of our clients and expedite the resolution of their claims.
Better Settlement Offers
Our relationship with insurance industry professionals gives us greater negotiating leverage when advocating for our clients. By using our network and reputation, we can push for more favorable settlement offers and ensure that our clients receive fair and just compensation for their injuries and losses.
Choose Our Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys in Denver
If you or a loved one was injured in a slip and fall accident, it is time to contact the seasoned Denver slip and fall attorneys at Smith & Weidinger. Our premises liability lawyers will move fast to collect evidence and build a robust case for a maximum settlement with the insurance company. To schedule your free consultation, give us a call at 720-996-2600 or fill out this online form.