Clayton Slip and Fall Lawyer

Statistics from the National Safety Council note that more than 34,000 people died in the U.S. in 2016 from fall injuries alone. In addition, thousands more sustained severe injuries after a fall. If you suffered bodily injuries in a fall due to the negligence of the property owner, a skilled personal injury attorney could assist you in pursuing monetary compensation.

You do not have to pursue an injury claim against an irresponsible property owner by yourself. A Clayton slip and fall lawyer could help you draft a lawsuit, negotiate with insurance companies, and potentially recover the damages you deserve.

Common Factors in Clayton Slip and Fall Injuries

While there are a wide variety of potential causes for a slip and fall accident, certain circumstances have a higher chance of leading to a slip and fall injury than others. An experienced slip and fall lawyer in Clayton could work to identify the cause of fall injury to hold the responsible party accountable.

Common factors in slip and fall injuries include:

• Uneven pavement
• Broken stairs or handrails
• Wet or icy floors
• Food or other debris on the floor
• Loose carpet
• Hidden extension cords

Classifying Visitors in a Slip and Fall Case

Not every slip and fall injury leads to a viable lawsuit. An injury victim is only entitled to recover damages from a property owner that owed the plaintiff a duty of care. If the property owner does not owe a duty to a plaintiff, or if the property owner did not violate the duty of care, the plaintiff would not have a viable injury claim.

The most crucial factor in determining whether a plaintiff has a viable claim is the relationship the plaintiff has with the property. The duty a property owner varies depending on the injury victim’s purpose for entering the defendant’s property.

Every visitor to real property falls within one of three classes:

• Invitees
• Licensees
• Trespassers

Invitees

A Clayton landowner owes the highest duty of care to invitees. An invitee is a person invited to enter a Clayton property for the benefit of the property owner. An invitee can include a personal invitation or property open to the general public. Patrons of businesses are considered invitees. A property owner in Clayton owes an invitee the duty to keep the premises reasonably safe and to warn them of any hidden hazards.

Licensees

A landowner owes a licensee a lower duty of care compared to an invitee. Licensees include people that enter the property for their own purposes, but with the consent of the property owner. A common example is a social guest. A property owner owes a licensee a duty to warn of any hidden safety hazards on the property.

Trespassers

A trespasser is a person that enters property without permission. Typically, a Clayton property owner would owe no duty to a trespasser. However, there are some rare exceptions. A landowner could be liable for a trespasser’s injuries if the landowner sets a dangerous trap for that person. A property owner could also be on the hook for damages to children injured on the property. The exceptions for trespasser liability are complicated and may be best explained by a seasoned Clayton attorney with experience in slip and fall lawsuits.

Contact a Clayton Slip and Fall Attorney

If you sustained an injury in a Clayton slip and fall accident, you have the right to seek compensation from the negligent property owner responsible for your fall. An attorney could take on most of the responsibility that comes with filing a claim, giving you time to heal from your injuries. To learn how to get your case started, contact a Clayton slip and fall lawyer immediately.