It is not uncommon for a person to fall. in fact, the National Safety Council reports that falls are one of the top causes of unintentional injuries in the U.S. You have likely fallen yourself. When you did fall, was it the result of tripping on something? Or was it the result of slipping on something? Did you even realize that there was a major difference?
You may not know that there is a difference but you can bet that personal injury lawyers know the difference. Why? Because the injuries are different from each type of accident and the legal approach is different too. We urge anyone who has been injured as the result of another person having dangerous property to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
What is a slip and fall accident?
When a person slips and falls, it is generally the result of a wet surface or a slippery substance on the ground. In a slip, a person loses their footing or loses contact with the ground below them and is more likely to fall back rather than forward. As a result, common injuries include head injuries, neck injuries, back injuries, and hip injuries.
Examples of situations that can cause a person to slip and fall including a melted ice cube on a hard floor, a hard floor that has been waxed or cleaned, or a hard floor with hair product spread across the floor.
What is a trip and fall accident?
On the other hand, when a person is involved in a trip and fall accident, it is because they have stepped on something or have not quite stepped all the way over an object that is hard and / or fixed. In most cases, trip and fall accidents cause a person to fall forward and they can cause injuries to the face, hand, arm, knew, and elbow.
Trip and fall accidents can be caused by many different items including uneven sidewalks, damaged parking lots, door jambs, items left on the floor of a store or office.
What to do after a fall
Regardless of the type of fall, the first thing to do is to contact 9-1-1 if there are serious injuries. If possible, take photos the scene and what caused the fall. Get information from witnesses. Then contact a personal injury attorney to find out if you have a legal case against the at-fault party. You can reach Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 now for a free legal consultation.
