Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can happen in almost any location, especially in a busy city like Las Vegas. However, many of these fall incidents occur because of hazards that could have been prevented. Understanding these causes can help support your personal injury claim. Common causes include:
- Wet or slippery floors without proper signage
- Uneven pavement
- Broken stairs
- Loose rugs
- Poor lighting in hallways and stairwells
In hotel lobbies and casino floors, spills and debris are often left unattended, creating a dangerous condition for guests and employees alike.
Falls in restaurants or grocery stores may result from uncleaned messes or misplaced merchandise in aisles. In outdoor areas, cracked sidewalks, potholes, or weather-related hazards can cause people to lose their footing. When a property owner fails to address these hazards or warn visitors, they may be held responsible under Nevada law.
If someone else’s negligence caused your accident, you may have grounds for a fall claim and could recover compensation for your injuries.
Injuries Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can lead to both short-term and life-changing injuries. At Temple Injury Law, we’ve worked with many accident victims whose daily lives were seriously affected by injuries caused by unsafe property conditions. Below are some of the most common injuries we see in fall cases:
- Hip fractures: Falls often cause broken hips, especially in older adults. Recovery can involve surgery, extended rehabilitation, and long-term mobility issues.
- Spinal cord injuries: A hard fall can result in damage to the spine, which may lead to loss of movement, chronic pain, or even paralysis.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): When someone hits their head during a fall, it can lead to a concussion or a more severe brain injury. Symptoms may include memory loss, dizziness, or long-term cognitive problems.
- Fractured wrists and ankles: Many people try to catch themselves during a fall, resulting in broken bones in the arms or legs.
- Torn ligaments and soft tissue damage: Even if bones aren’t broken, falls can cause painful sprains, strains, and tissue injuries that require therapy.
- Head injuries: Even minor head trauma should not be ignored. Head injuries can impact concentration, mood, and daily function.
- Emotional distress: Beyond physical pain, fall victims often suffer anxiety, depression, or fear of walking in public areas, especially after a serious injury.
- Long-term medical care: Some injuries require ongoing treatment, physical therapy, or even assisted living care, depending on the severity.
- Wrongful death: In tragic cases, a fall can be fatal. This is more common among elderly or medically fragile individuals and may lead to a wrongful death claim by surviving family members.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall in Las Vegas
Taking the right steps early on helps protect both your well-being and your legal rights. Here are the steps to take after a fall injury in Las Vegas, explained clearly so you know what to expect.
Prioritize Medical Attention Immediately
After a fall, getting medical care is the most important step. Even if you feel okay, injuries like hip injuries, spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injuries may not show symptoms right away. Visiting a doctor protects your health and creates an official medical record that can support your personal injury claim later.
Take Photos and Videos of the Area
Use your phone to capture the scene where the fall occurred. Focus on any dangerous condition like a wet floor, uneven surface, broken tile, or poor lighting. These photos serve as proof of the hazard that caused your injuries and are valuable when building a slip and fall lawsuit.
Notify the Property Owner or Manager
Let the property owner, store supervisor, or building manager know what happened. File an official report, and ask for a written copy. This creates a paper trail that confirms the slip and fall incident and ties it to the location and time it occurred.
Collect Witness Contact Information
If anyone saw the fall, ask for their name and phone number. Witness statements can support your fall claim by verifying how the accident happened and describing the scene. These third-party accounts may help in disputes with insurance companies or during legal proceedings.
Contact a Las Vegas Slip and Fall Attorney
After you’ve taken care of your health and documented the fall, call a fall accident lawyer. The legal team at Temple Injury Law can explain your rights, gather evidence, and handle communication with insurance companies. We offer a free consultation and work on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront costs.
What Makes a Strong Slip and Fall Claim?
To build a strong slip and fall claim, several elements must be in place.
- Clear evidence of a dangerous condition that led to the accident. This might be a wet floor, broken step, or poorly lit hallway. Photographs of the accident scene, maintenance logs, and witness testimony are key pieces of evidence.
- We must show that the property owner or manager knew about the hazard or should have known through regular inspection.
- Gathering medical records that link the fall to the injuries sustained is also essential. These show how severe the harm is and what care is needed moving forward.
- Timing also plays a role. The sooner a claim is started, the easier it is to gather fresh evidence and secure supporting documents.
At Temple Injury Law, we work quickly and thoroughly to protect your rights. Our fall lawyers guide you through each step, from claim filing to settlement talks or trial if needed. We aim to recover compensation for everything the accident has cost you.
What If You Fell at Work?
If you suffered a fall injury while at work, you may be covered under workers’ compensation laws. These benefits help cover medical bills and part of your lost wages without needing to prove fault. However, there are limits to what workers’ compensation provides, and you cannot typically sue your employer.
In some situations, you may have a separate personal injury claim alongside your workers’ compensation case. For example, if you fell because of a cleaning company’s mistake or a building contractor’s negligence, that third party could be held liable through a slip and fall lawsuit.
Our attorneys at Temple Injury Law review workplace fall cases carefully to identify all available legal options. We consider whether your injuries came from your employer’s conduct or someone else’s negligence. This approach helps maximize financial recovery for accident victims.
If you were hurt on the job in a slip and fall, contact us. You may be entitled to compensation beyond what workers’ compensation offers, without paying any upfront costs.
Do You Have a Slip and Fall Case?
Not every fall leads to a personal injury claim. To pursue a slip and fall case in Las Vegas, certain conditions must be met.
First, there must be proof that a hazardous condition existed and that the property owner or manager knew or should have known about it. If they failed to fix it or provide a warning, this may qualify as negligence. You must also show that the fall directly caused serious injuries. A doctor’s records can connect the accident to the injuries sustained.
Lastly, timing matters. Nevada law limits how long you have to file a personal injury claim. Acting quickly helps preserve evidence and witness testimony. At Temple Injury Law, we carefully review every slip and fall claim, helping injured clients determine if they have a valid case based on the accident’s circumstances and the damages they suffered.
Jeff Temple
Personal Injury Lawyer
Get Help from a Las Vegas Slip and Fall Attorney
After a serious fall, the most important thing is getting the medical care you need. But once your condition is stable, it’s time to think about how you’ll handle the expenses. That’s where a Las Vegas slip and fall attorney can help.
At Temple Injury Law, we take the pressure off our clients by handling the insurance claims and legal paperwork. We investigate how the fall occurred, determine who may be responsible, and help clients understand their rights under Nevada law.
Every fall case is different, so we build a plan based on your specific injuries and needs. Our law firm handles these cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe nothing unless we win. Call us for a free consultation and find out how we can support your recovery, without risking additional financial stress.
Call us at (702) 487-4999 today to schedule your free consultation with a Las Vegas slip and fall attorney. Let us help you understand your legal options and get back on your feet.