Reno Slip and Fall Lawyer
Being injured unexpectedly on someone else’s property can feel like a violation of trust. As a customer, visitor, patron, or resident of a property you believed was safe, suffering a serious injury you later realize was entirely preventable only compounds the pain and emotional distress a fall can cause.
You shouldn’t have been injured. And you certainly shouldn’t be the one left to carry the financial consequences alone.
An experienced Reno slip and fall lawyer from the Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp is ready to stand up for you. We will work determinedly to help you get fair compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and the other damages you incurred because a negligent property owner failed to address a dangerous condition.
When you’re ready, we’ll begin with a no-obligation, free consultation to discuss how we can help you.
What Can You Do When Slip and Fall Accidents Happen?
Nevada law allows those injured through the negligence of others to be made whole again with financial compensation that makes up for what the victim lost.
A slip and fall is a type of personal injury case that falls under premises liability law. Like other personal injury cases, you will need to prove that negligence was the cause of your injuries and resulting damages.
After a serious slip and fall, it’s best to work with a personal injury attorney who can help you navigate the claims process and ensure that the financial award you recover is fair.
The process of investigating an accident and determining liability can be highly complex. It is advisable to partner with a legal professional who will make sure there are no roadblocks to your recovery. Your slip and fall attorney will also serve as a liaison between you and the property owner’s insurance company, preventing a situation in which an insurance adjuster can use your words against you to deny your claim.
Where Is a Slip and Fall Accident Most Likely To Occur in Reno?
A slip and fall can happen anywhere that unsafe conditions exist, whether it is a:
- Restaurant
- Hotel
- Casino
- Bar or nightclub
- Entertainment venue
- Private property
- Grocery store
- Gas station
- Hospital
- Other type of property
Reno is known for an arts, food, and entertainment culture that draws people from around the world to the Biggest Little City in our state of Nevada. With large, excited crowds walking up and down unfamiliar paths on a daily basis, those who choose to open establishments in Reno, NV have the duty of maintaining hazard-free premises for visitors, customers, patrons, and residents of all ages and abilities.
What Can Cause a Slip and Fall Accident?
There are an unlimited number of factors that can cause preventable falls. When investigating fall claims, we look into the conditions of the premises at the time of the accident, often identifying fixable hazards that were left unaddressed, such as:
- Spilled liquids
- Loose wiring
- Unsecured carpeting
- Inadequate lighting
- Grease or oil on floors
- Broken stairs or railings
- Uneven flooring
- Debris on stairs or in walking paths
- Missing guard or handrails
- Open floor grates and holes
Is a Property Owner Liable for My Slip and Fall Injuries?
Owners of public and private property have a legal obligation to ensure premises are safe from hazards. When property owners fail to fix known fall risks, it shouldn’t be the unsuspecting fall victims who are left to pay the price.
Part of our job as Reno slip and fall attorneys is to make sure that property owners live up to their legal duty. If the owner of a hotel, restaurant, casino, or other establishment was careless in their regard for the safety of others, we can help you make sure that a wrongful situation is set right.
Proving Liability in a Slip and Fall Case
In fall cases, it is the injured victim’s burden to prove the property owner’s negligence. When you first meet with a Reno personal injury lawyer, you will initially need to determine if you have legal grounds for action.
To meet the criteria for a slip and fall claim, you need to be able to prove that:
- There was a dangerous condition on the property
- The property owner knew about the hazard (or a reasonable person in their position should have known)
- The owner had the time and opportunity to fix the condition but did not
- The owner’s failure to fix the hazard was the cause of your injuries
Common Slip and Fall Injuries
Even a slip and fall injury that is not considered fatal or catastrophic (like a brain bleed or paralyzing spinal cord injury) can have a huge impact on the victim’s ability to lead a normal life.
An injury as “minor” as a broken wrist can leave you out of work for months—while racking up thousands of dollars in medical expenses. This is why public-facing venues are required to carry high amounts of insurance coverage. It is well known how much an injury costs to treat.
Some of the most common injuries associated with a slip and fall are:
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Nerve damage
- Hip, knee, and ankle injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Other traumatic brain injuries
- Wrist and arm injuries
- Dislocation injuries
- Lacerations (cuts)
Be sure to save all medical records, bills, and receipts associated with treatment to share with your Nevada slip and fall accident lawyer. An experienced attorney can use this information to build your claim, link your injuries to the dangerous conditions that caused them, and calculate a fair amount of compensation.
Steps To Take After a Reno Slip and Fall Accident
When slip and fall accidents happen, it’s hard to think about anything but the shock and pain of your experience. But some of the most important evidence in a fall case is only available in the minutes after the incident. If it’s possible for you, try to take the following actions as soon as you can after your fall:
- Call the police if needed
- Seek medical attention
- Report the fall to the property owner or manager
- Take pictures of the accident scene and injuries
- Get contact information from any eyewitnesses
- Schedule a case consultation with a firm of Reno slip and fall lawyers
The more information you have to bring to your initial case consultation, the more it will help your attorney.
Additionally, Nevada state law limits your time to take action to two years from the date of injury, in most cases. Two years is not a long amount of time to assess the extent of your injuries and the efficacy of treatments, meet with a lawyer, gather evidence, investigate liability, and build a strong claim to compensation.
Don’t wait to find out if filing a personal injury claim is necessary in your case. If you wait until you’re too far in debt to get out, it may be too late to begin the legal proceedings.
It’s best to meet with a law firm of slip and fall attorneys right away to learn what your legal rights and options are. Then, you will have the knowledge you need to make the right choice, without missing an important deadline that could bar you from full financial recovery.
Recovering Compensation After Fall Injuries
If you suffered steep economic and noneconomic losses as a result of your fall, you may be able to secure compensation through a slip and fall claim.
This can aid you in obtaining back what was lost through:
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses
- Future medical bills
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Decreased quality of life
- And more
Partnering with the right Reno slip and fall attorney can guarantee you receive maximum compensation through a fair settlement of your premises liability claim.
Finding the Right Slip and Fall Attorney for You
At the Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp, we have in-depth knowledge of all premises liability law and Nevada law that may apply to your case. We know the legal process of holding negligent property owners accountable for harmful actions. Our team has been practicing law to the benefit of our community members in Reno, NV for many years, and we’re more than ready to do the same for you.
We believe that all injured victims should have equal access to high-quality legal representation, so we take most cases on a contingency fee basis. In other words, we don’t charge a fee unless we win your case.
The Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp has what it takes to successfully handle your slip and fall claim. A free consultation with one of our premises liability lawyers is available for you at your convenience. Simply contact us online or call our law firm to set up a time for us to meet.
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“I recently retained the professional services of Matthew Sharp and his law firm to represent my interest in a legal proceeding. Mr. Sharp and his firm shall I say was way over the top in providing excellent and sound legal advice. His professional attitude and attention to detail during the entire process was second to none as well as the rapid and courteous responses from Mr. Sharp and his staff to any and all of my questions regarding my case. Furthermore, I would give my utmost support to anyone choosing Mr. Sharp and his firm in any type of legal representation.”
- RICK S.