Woman Files a Claim for Trip-and-Fall Accident

City officials must make sure that public properties are in properly maintained and will not cause harm to anyone. They must immediately fix roads and sidewalks that have become hazardous to people walking by.

A 66-year-old Anaheim woman recently filed a $50,000 claim against Huntington Beach for the injuries she sustained in a trip-and-fall accident last December near the intersection of Knoxville Avenue and Florida Street.

Reports indicate that Peggy Carroll was walking to her daughter’s parked car when she tripped on an uneven sidewalk and hit her head onto the ground causing the side of her face to be bruised.

Since then, the woman claimed she was burdened by medical expenses including an on-going treatment for her neck and back injuries.

The uneven sidewalk caused by raised roots of nearby trees was fixed by the city shortly after the accident.

These accidents could have been avoided if only city officials were thorough in making sure that sidewalks are still in good condition and repair those that are damaged by different factors.

Stadium worker’s Slip and Fall Accident before Charger’s Game

A stadium worker identified as Walt Daniels fell 20-25 feet from the visiting coaches’ booth three hours before the game between the Chargers and the Broncos.

Daniels, who walks with a cane, was putting together program packages for dispersal to the media when he stumbled down the stairs and rolled out of Booth 35C at around 2:34 p.m.

He landed on the seats below where the Security team performed CPR on him.

Medics were able to revive him and he was brought to a hospital later.

I would recommend that he consult with a personal injury lawyer right away. If he has insurance, then he should notify them immediately as well.

Depending on the details of the cause of the accident, he may have some legal options available.

First, if the injury makes him unable to work, he could file for a worker’s compensation.

However, if the stadium owner is his boss, he will also be surrendering his right to sue them.

If he chooses to sue instead of availing worker’s compensation, he may have a cause for a premises liability case.

But again, it will depend on the details of the slip and fall accident.

The burden of proof will fall upon him to prove that the stadium owner’s negligence had caused the accident that resulted to his injuries.

That would be difficult as he would have to prove that there was a hazard in the stadium and that the owner failed to address the dangers that it poses.

To make sure that he is making the right move, he should consult with a personal injury lawyer to give him the pros and cons of his legal options.

Slip and Fall Accidents in California’s Setting

Years ago, the residents of San Francisco, California had witnessed the legal battle ensued between a Chief Executive Officer of a company and a famous hotel.

Accidents encompass people, time, and place. This only shows that accidents happen at anytime, at any place and to any one. Slip and fall accident is one of them. Injuries from this type of accident may be less dangerous compared to other injury causing accidents. However, its effects may manifest only in the future when you are caught unaware.

Slip and fall accident is a personal injury that occurs when an owner of a building has been negligent in the care and maintenance of his or her promises.

Structural defects of a building due to age or ordinary wear and tear are the common culprit for a slip and fall injury case. These defects may include:

* Uneven steps
* parking lot potholes
* cracked sidewalks
* broken tiles
* torn carpeting

Building owners are expected to make sure that the building's structure complies with applicable building codes. For instance, handrails must typically be installed at a certain general height. Should injury occur in case of violation of this requisite, the injured party may have a valid claim against the building owner.

Property owners have a certain “duty of care” to ensure that their property is secure. For negligent owners, the law has provided penalties that would make them liable. Make sure, however, that the suit is within the statute of limitations.

Standard Policy for Residential Stairs and Handrails

Slip and fall accidents are numerous and common. If you want to avoid personal injuries and lawsuits for slip and fall accidents that may occur on your stairs, follow the following standards in the construction of your residential stairs and handrails.

According to Section 1003.3.3 of the California Building Code the standard construction of the stairs and handrails must meet the following requirements:
1. The rise must be at least 4 inches but no more than 8 inches in height.
2. The run must at least be 9 inches wide.
3. Except for winding circular and spiral stairs, the largest tread run shall not exceed the smallest one by more than 3/8 of an inch.
4. The greatest riser height shall not exceed the smallest by more than 3/8 of an inch.
5. The headroom must at least be 6 feet and 8 inches height.
6. Handrail must have a minimum height of 34 inches and a maximum height of 38 inches above the nosing of the threads and must be returned to the wall.
7. Handrail required on one side and whenever stairs have more than 3 risers.

If you follow the above standard requirements, it will at least minimize your risk of lawsuits from accidents caused by slip, trip and fall accidents.