Washington, DC Slip and Fall Lawyer

If you were seriously injured due to someone else’s negligence, a DC slip and fall lawyer can help. Slip and falls are a type of premises liability accident that occurs in unsafe conditions and settings. These can include private properties, grocery stores, shopping malls, office buildings, or other commercial properties. If hazardous conditions on someone’s property caused you to slip and fall, resulting in a significant injury, you might have legal options to recover financial compensation through a slip and fall lawsuit.

If your slip and fall injury caused you to accumulate medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress, you could be entitled to financial compensation. Contact an experienced Washington, DC premises liability lawyer at Regan Zambri Long to discuss your slip and fall case.

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How Can the Best Washington, DC Slip and Fall Lawyers Near Me Help?

An experienced slip and fall accident attorney can provide the advice you need to help you understand a premises liability claim. Our Washington, DC slip and fall lawyers can determine who is responsible for your injuries, calculate your claim’s worth, and negotiate with the property owner’s insurance company on your behalf. If we cannot reach an agreement, we can successfully represent you in court.

At Regan Zambri Long PLLC, we have decades of experience helping clients recover multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts after serious slip and fall accidents. As a result, our Washington, DC personal injury lawyers can offer answers if you need to know what to do next. If unsafe conditions on someone else’s property caused you or a loved one to slip and fall, resulting in a serious injury, you might have legal options to recover compensation through a slip and fall lawsuit. Speak to our experienced DC premises liability attorneys for a free case review.

What Are the Common Causes of Fall Accidents in Washington, DC?

Although a dangerous condition may cause a slip and fall accident, most are preventable when property owners maintain a safe environment. Common causes of slip and fall cases in Washington, DC include:

  • Wet Surfaces: Restaurants, grocery stores, and other businesses should always clean up puddles, spills, or other wet surfaces that could cause slippery floors. At the very least, warning signs should be placed around the area to indicate the wet floor or surfaces for customers.
  • Uneven Walkways: In some cases, parking lots and other areas may have severely uneven surfaces that create tripping hazards. Property owners must maintain walkways and paths on their land, while the city or other government agency is typically responsible for public sidewalks.
  • Clutter: Property owners should remove clutter from areas with heavy foot traffic, such as stairwells and hallways.
  • Inadequate Lighting: Poor lighting or insufficient lighting in stairwells and hallways can hide objects, spills, or other slip and fall hazards.
  • Bad Weather: Snow, ice, sleet, and rain can create slip and fall hazards inside and outside a business. Nevertheless, a property owner must take reasonable steps to remove these hazards from the premises.
  • Unsafe Staircases: Slip and fall accidents involving staircases in poor condition are more likely to result in catastrophic injury or death. This can include having unsecured carpeting on steps, loose floorboards, and inadequate railing.

If you were hurt due to poorly maintained property, the premises liability attorneys of Regan Zambri Long are here to guide you through the legal process.

Washington, DC slip and fall lawyer

Who Can Be Held Legally Liable After a Slip and Fall Accident?

Property owners can be held liable for injuries sustained on their property if they fail to maintain their property or remove dangerous hazards from their land and buildings.

In Washington, DC, your property liability lawyer may be able to bring a premises liability lawsuit against a property or business owner if one of the following incidents is true:

  • The owner had prior knowledge of the hazard but failed to fix the problem. If a business or property owner fails to correct slip and fall hazards they know about, the owner could be held accountable for your injury. For example, the grocery store employees at Giant Food knew about a spill but failed to clean up the puddle or warn customers.
  • The property owner should have noticed the hazard during routine maintenance. A property owner might be liable for your injury even if they overlooked the dangerous conditions, but should have known of the danger. An example would be a property owner failing to notice a burned-out light in a stairwell. If you fall down these stairs due to poor lighting, the negligent property owner may be legally responsible for your injuries.

Washington, DC Contributory Negligence and Your Slip and Fall Injury

Sometimes, the victim may share some fault for the slip and fall incident. For example, if the victim used a cell phone during the accident or was in an area where visitors weren’t allowed, they might be partially responsible.

In Washington, DC, the legal system follows the contributory negligence rule. This strict rule states that if the victim is found to be slightly at fault for the accident, they cannot recover any damages. Expert premises liability lawyers will work to prove that you had no part in causing the accident to reach a fair settlement.

What Evidence is Necessary to Prove a Slip and Fall Injury?

To win a slip and fall case based on negligence, you must show that the business or property owner had constructive knowledge of the hazardous condition. You need to prove that the unsafe condition existed long enough that the owner should have discovered it through reasonable care or that the condition occurred so regularly that its presence was foreseeable.

Evidence that you will need to prove your slip and fall lawsuit includes:

  • Photographs of the Hazard: Take pictures of the area where you fell. You will want photos of the accident scene and of the hazard itself. Time is of the essence here, as the property owner might try to fix the issue after the fall, compromising your evidence to get photographs before leaving the property.
  • Footage from the Security Cameras: If available, footage can show the presence of the hazard and even your fall itself. To get video footage, your slip and fall attorney must send a letter to the property owner to protect the footage so it is not erased.
  • Testimony from Witnesses: Their statements can be valuable if anyone saw you fall and can describe the dangerous condition. Get contact information from anyone who witnessed your fall so your attorney can speak to them later.
  • Incident Report: After an accident, filing an incident report with the property or business owner is essential. This document will provide vital information about the slip and fall, such as when it occurred, how it happened, what caused the accident, and what happened afterward.
  • Maintenance Records: Maintenance records can show that the property owner knew about the hazard previously and whether they had taken any steps to fix it.
  • Medical Records: Seek medical attention immediately after the slip and fall. This is important for your injury claim because it will prove how severe your injuries may be and what medical care must be taken to treat them.

Remember, the specific evidence needed will vary depending on the circumstances of your case. Consulting with a Washington, DC slip and fall attorney can help you determine the most relevant evidence and how to obtain it effectively.

Common Injuries Sustained in a Slip and Fall Accident

Common injuries sustained by accident victims in a slip and fall can range from minor to severe and can include:

  • Broken bones or bone fractures
  • Head injury, traumatic brain injury
  • Neck injuries, spinal cord injuries
  • Soft tissue injuries, nerve damage

If you’ve experienced such a slip and fall injury, a Washington, DC premises liability attorney can help determine if you can file a claim against the negligent property owner. It’s important to note that having a slip and fall jury attorney doesn’t automatically mean you will win a personal injury claim. However, having a knowledgeable attorney can significantly improve your chances.

How Can a Slip and Fall Attorney in DC Help Me?

If you suffered injuries from a slip and fall on someone else’s property, contact an attorney from our personal injury law firm as soon as possible. Filing a legal claim against the property owner or other parties can help pay for expenses related to your injuries. An experienced attorney will take steps to gather evidence, deal with the insurance policies, and represent you in court should a settlement not be reached.

Statute of Limitations For Slip and Fall Accident Claim

If you suffered a slip and fall injury, you must file your personal injury claim three years from the accident date. However, there are exceptions to the deadline, which includes:

  • Delayed discovery of injuries
  • Accidents involving government entities
  • Accidents involving minors

Call a Washington, DC slip and fall lawyer from Regan Zambri Long to ensure you do not miss any filing deadlines.

How Can I Afford the Best Slip and Fall Attorney Near Me?

We handle cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not owe us a fee unless you recover compensation. The Washington, DC, slip and fall lawyers at Regan Zambri Long PLLC also represent personal injury claims in Virginia and Maryland. For a free case review explaining the legal process after a slip and fall accident, call (202) 960-4596 or fill out our confidential online contact form.

Frequently Asked Questions About Slip and Fall Accidents in DC

Does DC Slip and Fall Law Protect Trespassers Who Suffer Injury?

Trespassers are generally not protected if hurt on someone else’s property. However, if the property owner knew the trespassing was occurring and did not maintain the property, or if they intentionally created a dangerous condition to harm the trespasser, there may be a legal case.

Our Washington, DC slip and fall lawyers can review your case to see if you have a claim.

What Happens If I Slip and Fall on Government Property?

The District of Columbia has a legal duty of care to maintain its property, such as sidewalks, parks, or buildings. You must hold the government liable if they fail to maintain the property.

However, DC has stringent guidelines when dealing with accidents on its property. If you slip and fall on public property, you must report the fall to the proper government agency. There are deadlines for filing a personal injury claim against the government, so the sooner you file a claim, the better.

Each case is unique, so consulting a DC slip and fall lawyer is vital for understanding your situation and rights.

Can I Sue My Neighbor if I Have a Slip and Fall Injury on Their Property?

The short answer is yes. Public or private owners are responsible for keeping their properties safe for anyone visiting. If you slip and fall on your neighbor’s property and are injured, your neighbor should provide their homeowners’ insurance information so you can submit a claim.

What Damages Can I Receive for a Slip and Fall Accident?

Depending on what injuries you may have sustained and the events surrounding the slip and fall accident, you may be eligible for the following damages:

  • Medical expenses, such as doctor visits, medical equipment, physical therapy, prescription drug costs, and long-term care
  • Rehabilitation costs
  • Lost wages or loss of income
  • Transportation costs
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Out-of-pocket related expenses
  • Funeral expenses

In addition to these economic expenses, you may be entitled to non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and a diminished quality of life.

Who is Most At Risk For a Serious Slip and Fall Injury in Washington, DC?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults over 65 years old are at a heightened risk for serious injury should they fall. Each year, roughly three million older adults will visit the emergency room for their slip and fall injuries, and one million will face a hospital stay as a result.

With most Washington DC slip and fall accidents occurring in retail settings where this population is most likely to frequent, their added risk factors of limited mobility, poor eyesight, and coordination place them at an increased risk for harm.

If an elderly loved one suffered severe injury from a slip and fall in a public place, contact Regan Zambri Long.

How Much Is My Slip and Fall Injury Worth?

A premises liability claim can result in thousands to millions of dollars in a settlement or verdict, depending on the severity of the victim’s injuries. Experienced DC injury lawyers will secure you the maximum compensation for:

  • Severe injuries that result in temporary or permanent disability
  • Current and future medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Decreased earning potential
  • Pain and suffering
  • Wrongful death

At Regan Zambri Long, a Washington DC slip and fall lawyer will ensure you get you compensation after a slip and fall accident. Our track record proves this–including multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts such as a $16 million premises liability claim settlement for a young professional who suffered a traumatic brain injury and a $10 million action for an injured child.

I Was Drinking When I Fell. Do I Still Have A Case?

We all know drinking can greatly reduce your response time and balance. However, if you were intoxicated at the time of your slip and fall injury, you may still have a claim. You and your DC slip and fall lawyer must prove that the intoxication did not cause the fall, but the property’s condition or another intoxicated patron was to blame.

For example, you may still have a case if you were drinking at a bar and slipped in a puddle that the staff knew about but had not cleaned. Call a Washington, DC slip and fall attorney to review your case.

What Should I Do if I Have a Slip and Fall Injury?

Follow these steps if you had a slip and fall injury in the Washington, DC area:

  • Immediately following your accident, seek medical treatment as soon as possible to learn the extent of your injuries. Even if you don’t think you were seriously injured, you should always follow up with your doctor whenever you get into an accident. Sometimes, you may not feel the pain from the accident until days later.
  • Gather as much evidence as you have at the scene. You should take photos of the scene and gather any information from witnesses.
  • Make sure the property owner or business is aware of the accident. If an accident occurs at work, inform the manager and ensure an incident report is created.
  • Try to document everything you can about the accident, such as when it occurred, what you did at the time, and the area’s conditions.
  • Talk to a slip and fall lawyer to ensure your rights are protected and fair compensation for your injuries. The earlier you consult a slip and fall injury lawyer, the sooner you will have a legal professional to handle the legal aspects of your case. Your attorney will determine the cause of the accident, manage your premises liability claim, and hold the responsible parties liable.

A Washington DC Slip and Fall Attorney From Regan Zambri Long Is Here For You

For more information or to schedule a free consultation, contact a Washington, DC, slip and fall injury lawyer at Regan Zambri Long PLLC today.

Contact Our DC Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys Today

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Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.

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