Can I File a Slip and Fall Claim if I Didn’t Fall Down?

Before we discuss the legal aspect of these cases, let’s take a moment to consider the differences between a slip and fall and a slip and twist incident. The most critical difference is the word “fall,” even though you may think that falls are involved in both of these accidents. That’s technically true, but a slip and fall generally involves making contact with the ground or another surface, which causes blunt force trauma to your body. The resulting injuries can be very serious, even permanent – and this is simply from the act of losing one’s balance and collapsing forwards, backwards, or sideways.

When you have a slip and twist, on the other hand, you are somehow able to catch your balance and keep your body from collapsing. But it takes a lot of strain to accomplish this task, and this is where a lot of injuries happen. You can also be injured from contact with certain objects as you slip, and these can cause serious wounds to your hands, legs, face, and other body parts.

The slip and fall lawyers of DTLA are ready and available to answer any questions you have about slip and twist injuries and your right to compensation from a personal injury claim. Contact us right away if you’ve been hurt at a private, commercial, or public property, such as:

• Stores and shopping malls
• Apartment complexes 
• Bars, restaurants, and nightclubs
• Office buildings / work sites
• Government properties – agency buildings, city parks, sidewalks, swimming pools, bus stops, etc.
• Gas stations 
• Supermarkets
• Movie theaters and concert halls
• Sports stadiums
• Gyms and fitness clubs
• Hospitals, nursing homes, and doctor’s offices 
• Parking lots 
• Hotels, motels, and resorts
• Elevators and escalators 
• Construction sites 
• Amusement parks and carnivals

Most people understand that serious injuries can happen if you fall down unexpectedly. But even if you manage to keep yourself from falling, you can still sustain a variety of injuries with serious complications. Take a look at the following conditions that are associated with a slip and twist accident:

• Soft tissue injuries from torn ligaments and tendons  
• Sprain and strains, especially in the ankles, hands, and wrists
• Abrasions, cuts, and puncture wounds from grabbing on to something to catch yourself as you slip
• Dislocated joints (most commonly, the knees and shoulder) from extreme twisting in those areas.
• Head trauma from contact with the wall, shelves, and other objects, which can cause traumatic brain injury, fracturing of the skull, and broken facial bones

Your right to demand monetary compensation for a slip and twist injury is based on premises liability, which is a legal concept that obligates property owners to maintain reasonably safe conditions on their premises. Thus, if there is a slip and fall hazard on the property (wet floors, icy pavement, etc.) that causes you to be injured, you have the right to file an accident claim against the owner. Keep in mind that you can also file a lawsuit if managers or workers at the property fail to take the necessary actions to prevent a fall-related accident. This is based on the concept of vicarious liability, where employers are responsible for the conduct of their employees when it causes harm to another individual.

Dangerous conditions that can cause someone to slip and hurt themselves include:

• Spills on the floor from drinks, damaged products, etc.
• Leaking sinks and toilets in bathrooms
• Mats and rugs that won’t stay in place
• Broken fridges, freezers, and other appliances
• Puddles, ice, and snow
• Uneven flooring or missing tiles / floorboards 
• Defective or missing handrails
• Slippery steps
• Residue on the floor from soap, wax, and cleansers
• Grease and oil stains on the ground (very common at gas stations)
• No Wet Floor signs or safety barriers

The statute of limitations for a slip and twist injury lawsuit can be anywhere from 6 months to two years, depending on the entity you are suing. If, for example, you were injured at someone’s home, hotel, or shopping mall, these are all private entities, which would give you 2 years from the incident to file a lawsuit.

On the other hand, if your accident occurred on a property that’s owner by the government, you only have 6 months to file a compensation claim. This involves slip and fall or slip and twists on city sidewalks, public parks, public transportation hubs, and government buildings. Once the agency receives your claim, you will most likely receive a response within 45 days. If your claim is denied, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit within 6 months. In the event the agency fails to respond in 45 days, you will have 2 years from the accident to sue the applicable agency.

Your settlement from an injury claim depends on numerous factors, including the severity of your injuries and the monetary losses you’ve suffered as a direct result of your accident. In addition, a compensation award is made of up economic and non-economic damages, which may include some or all of the following:

• Medical expenses
• Income lost from your job / business due to your recovery needs
• Pain and suffering 
• Mental anguish
• Property damage 
• Legal fees
• Punitive damages 

The sum of your available damages may be around $15,000 to $45,000 and above if you have relatively minor injuries. For injuries that will take multiple treatments and extended care (though full recovery is expected), case values will probably fall between $65,000 and $250,000. In cases where the victim is left with lifelong, severe injuries, like brain injury or amputation, it’s possible to see settlements of $500,000 to over $2,500,000.

Due to the wide variations in case values, it’s best to discuss the details of your accident with a slip and twist injury lawyer at our office.

When you are trying to recover from a serious accident, it’s essential to have an idea of how long it will take to receive payment from a lawsuit. Our goal is to negotiate a settlement award directly with the insurance company, which is the most time and cost-efficient method for all the involved parties. We strive to recover all settlements within 6 months, but there are many complications that can add months, perhaps even years, to the settlement process. While there is no such thing as an average amount of time to settle a slip and twist injury case, lawsuits against commercial properties often take around 8 to 10 months. Claims against government entities, on the other hand, may involve one or two years of work from start to finish.

For more information on how long it may take to settle a slip and twist accident claim, contact our office to speak with a fall accident injury attorney.

Slip and falls are the leading cause of injuries all over the world, and yet, the legal process required to obtain compensation can be extremely complicated. That’s why victims must reach out to a lawyer with experience in slip and twist cases if they’ve been injured from a dangerous condition on someone else’s property.

We understand how worried you are about the cost of hiring a lawyer, but we want to assure you that all clients receive free legal services here at DTLA Law Group. We provide a Zero Fee Guarantee on all cases, which means the only way we get paid is by bringing you compensation from a slip and twist injury claim.

The slip and fall lawsuit attorneys of DTLA also provide second opinions if you have concerns about an existing accident claim. We never charge for a second opinion, so there’s no need to hesitate on contacting us if you would like a free second opinion on your slip and twist injury case.

Simply put, we are here to help you if negligence by another individual or entity caused you to be injured from a slip and twist incident. Please give us a call to schedule a free initial consultation or free second opinion.

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