Falls consistently rank as a leading cause of nonfatal injury in the United States. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 9 million people are injured in fall accidents every year. While young children and the elderly are the most common victims of falls, someone at any age can suffer a serious injury from a slip and fall.
According to the CDC, the latest data regarding unintentional injuries in the United States shows that 9,256,761* people of all ages were injured by falls in 2011. In fact unintentional falls were the leading cause of all age groups except 15-24 year olds. More people were injured by falls in 2011 than motor vehicle accidents, which accounted for 2,220,000 people in 2011 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration**
Sometimes a property owner can be held responsible when someone falls on their property. This type of case falls under a legal category known as premises liability. Under premises liability law, a property owner can be held accountable for certain injuries suffered by individuals who are present on the premises.
There are many factors that must be considered in a premises liability case. For example, if you were injured in a slip and fall or trip and fall accident, you will need to determine if you were an invitee, licensee or trespasser. You are generally considered an invitee if you are a customer. A licensee is someone who is invited to enter the property, such as a social guest. You could be considered a trespasser if you did not have permission to be on the property.
The most important aspect of a slip and fall lawsuit is proving that the property owner was careless or negligent, which led to your injuries. You should consult with an experienced Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer following a fall accident to help you determine who was to blame for your injuries. Contact Steinberg Injury Lawyers today at 1-800-350-8888 for a free legal consultation. We have been representing injured victims since 1982 and can help you.
*Source: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control - 10 Leading Causes of Nonfatal Injury, United States 2011
*Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration- 2011 Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview
