Reno Slip and Fall Lawyers, Washoe County, NV
Helping residents, workers, and visitors after a fall in Nevada
A slip and fall accident can happen when you least expect it, such as while grocery shopping in Reno or enjoying yourself at a casino. These are some of the most common – and preventable – personal injury accidents in Nevada. Property owners have a duty to keep their premises in good repair. This duty of care applies to for-profit businesses such as casinos and restaurants and non-profit businesses such as hospitals and local charities. Homeowners also have a duty of care to their neighbors.
At Claggett & Sykes, we understand just how serious slip-and-fall accidents and property accidents are. Falls can cause catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries and paralysis. Even seemingly minor injuries can cause a victim to live with a lifetime of chronic pain. If you were hurt after slipping, tripping, and/or falling, contact us today for help.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Reno slip and fall accidents
- Why do slip and fall accidents happen in Reno?
- Why are Reno property owners liable for a slip and fall accident in Reno?
- What injuries are common in Reno slip and fall cases?
- How much is my Reno slip and fall case worth?
- What to do after a slip and fall accident?
- How do Reno slip and fall lawyers fight for victims?
- Is there a Reno premises liability lawyer near me?
Why do slip and fall accidents happen in Reno
Slip, trip, and fall accidents in Reno can almost always be prevented with due care by the owner, manager, or occupier of the property. At a business, for example, employees should be trained to detect and fix slip and fall hazards promptly, before a guest has the chance to slip. Careless property ownership – known as negligence in premises liability law – can lead to many defects and hazards that are dangerous for guests. The following slip and fall accident risks are common:
- Wet or slippery floors
- Spilled beverages
- Food or debris on the floor
- Leaky pipes
- Unsafe staircases
- Uneven floor surfaces
- Ice or snow in parking lots and entranceways or on sidewalks
- Loose carpets or rugs
- Inadequate lighting
If a preventable hazard caused your slip and fall accident at a hotel, restaurant, bar, casino, store, or even at a friend’s house, the property owner could be eligible for your financial losses and pain and suffering.
A slip and fall accident can occur:
- When your shoe fails to grip the walking surface due to the interference of a substance such as water or grease.
- When there is an impediment to walking normally such as a cord or raised edge.
- From a failure in the walking path’s surface such as a hole or missing cover.
- Because of a lack of warning about the dangers by the property owner.
- From a property owners’ failure to remove snow, ice, and other debris from walkways
- Because of inadequate lighting.
Other causes of slip and fall accidents in Reno include uneven walkways and stairs, unstable or missing ramps, and loose railings.
Why are Reno property owners liable for a slip and fall accident?
Recovering a monetary award for a slip and fall accident in Reno means properly navigating Nevada’s premises liability laws. Premises liability means that all property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain reasonably safe spaces. This responsibility comes with specific duties of care based on the type of visitor. There are three visitor classifications, organized in order from most important to least important: invitee, licensee, and trespasser.
Property owners in Nevada owe a duty of care to invitees, such as customers at a business. They must inspect their properties for hazards before welcoming guests, fix any issues, and post warning signs of potential injury risks. The duties of care are slightly less toward licensees, who enter properties for their own purposes. The only duty of care owed to a trespasser, who does not have permission to be on a property, is not to intentionally injure the person.
Determining financial responsibility, or liability, for a slip and fall accident in Reno takes determining your classification as a visitor and proving that the property owner failed to keep you reasonably safe. In other words, you or your lawyer must prove that the property owner knew, or reasonably should have known, about the hazard, failed to remedy it in a timely manner, and that this is what caused your slip and fall accident. An attorney can help you meet your burden of proof by preserving and collecting evidence on your behalf.
What injuries are common in Reno slip and fall cases?
You could receive compensation for an injury caused by the property owner’s negligence. Possible injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord damage
- Amputation
- A broken bone
- Hip fracture
- Sprained wrist
- Concussion
- Shoulder, neck, and back injuries
- Other injuries
How much is my Reno slip and fall case worth?
The value of every personal injury case is based on adding up the following factors – each of which we work to maximize:
- The costs of medical care including ER care, hospitalizations and surgeries, doctor visits, physical and other types of therapies, assistive devices, and medications
- Economic losses including lost wages or lost income – from the date of the accident through the date the victim can return to work. Victims who can’t return to work can claim disability financial losses.
- Pain and suffering including chronic pain, the agony of not being able to sleep, the inability to perform routine functions, anxiety, and depression. These are often the largest damages in a case when the injuries are severe.
- Damages for any scarring or disfigurement
- Punitive damages if the owner, for example, knew of a clear danger and failed to warn customers and visitors.
If a casino, hotel, nightclub, or any business causes some to die due to a slip and fall – we file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the family members. Generally, the beneficiaries of a wrongful death claim are the spouse, domestic partner, and children. Parents and siblings may also be entitled to wrongful death damages.
What to do after a slip and fall accident?
Many slip and fall accident victims in Nevada require immediate medical care. If you’re injured while on someone else’s property, you should arrange to be examined at a local emergency room. In some cases, a friend or someone on behalf of the property owner will make the arrangements for your transport.
If you are able to (a friend should help out if possible), Reno property accident victims should:
- Report the slip and fall to the property owner or the management. Don’t admit fault. Do request an official report form.
- Take photos of the areas where you fell.
- Take photos of yourself. The pictures should show your injuries as best they can.
- Seek medical help. Delay in seeking help could affect your treatment. Insurance companies will often argue that if you waited, you weren’t really injured.
- Follow your doctor’s recommendations.
You should also contact our experience Reno premises liability lawyers as soon as possible. We’ll investigate the accident site, review with you what happened, and start the claims process.
How do Reno slip and fall lawyers fight for victims?
Our Reno premises liability lawyers hire experts during litigation to inspect the accident site and speak with witnesses. We request any documentation which might indicate the property owner had prior notice of the defect or knew of any complaints about how dangerous the property was.
We work with your doctors to confirm your diagnosis, what treatment you need, and how your injuries are affecting your life. We work with your employer and financial professionals to verify your lost income. Our lawyers work with you and your family to detail all your daily physical pain and emotional suffering.
Is there a Reno premises liability lawyer near me?
Claggett & Sykes Law Firm’s Reno office is located at 100 N Sierra St, Suite 220. If you cannot travel to us, we can come to you, or make arrangement for a phone or video conference.
Injured in a Reno slip and fall accident? Contact our seasoned premises liability lawyers today
If you or someone you love has been injured in a serious slip and fall accident in Reno, Nevada, get help from Claggett & Sykes Law Firm. We have been representing injured accident victims in premises liability lawsuits throughout Nevada for many years. Through our trial, consulting, and appellate work, our attorneys have recovered over $1.5 billion in verdicts and settlements. Furthermore, we operate on a contingency fee basis, which means we don’t get paid until we get you a settlement.
Discuss your potential slip and fall accident case in more detail with one of our lawyers today. Call 702-333-7777 or contact us for a free case evaluation.
Reno Office
100 N Sierra St, Suite 220
Reno, NV 89501