Tempe Slip and Fall Attorney

Slip and Fall Representation IN THE EAST VALLEY (MESA, CHANDLER, GILBERT, & SCOTTSDALE), PINAL COUNTY, GILA COUNTY & ACROSS ARIZONA 

When you enter a store, restaurant, hotel, or any commercial space, you should never have to worry about unsafe conditions. Should an unmarked hazard or some other avoidable danger cause you to slip, fall, and hurt yourself, you may have a premises liability claim. 

At the Law Offices of Douglas B. Price, we help Arizonians recover damages when they are injured due to another party’s negligence. Our Tempe slip and fall lawyer has 39 years of experience and understands how to successfully pursue personal injury claims. We will get to work on your case while you focus on recovery. Getting you the compensation that you deserve is always our top priority, and we have the knowledge, tenacity, and trial skills required to win.

Contact us online or call (480) 345-8100 to schedule a free initial consultation today. Financing options are available. 

How Does Premises Liability Work?

Slip and fall cases are covered by premises liability. Under this area of personal injury law, property owners (as well as tenants) are required to make a reasonable effort to prevent injuries on their properties. In Arizona, the level of liability a property owner incurs depends on the classification of the visitor. 

An “invitee” is someone who has permission to enter a property for a business-related purpose. You are an invitee when you enter a grocery store, movie theater, or shopping mall, for example. Property owners must make an effort to warn invitees about any known hazards, such as slippery floors or uneven surfaces. A property owner becomes liable for any injuries that occur if they fail to warn invitees about a hazard they knew about, that an employee created, or that existed for so long that someone reasonably should have discovered it. 

For example, say there is a spill in a grocery store caused by another customer. An hour passes, and nothing is done to clean up the spill. No warning signage is placed near the resulting slick surface, and another patron consequently slips and falls. In this case, the property owner may be liable because they reasonably should have discovered and addressed the hazard. 

Liability works a bit differently for licensees, who are invited guests who do not enter a property for commercial purposes. You are likely a licensee when you are invited over to a friend’s house, for example. In these instances, the property owner must warn licensees of any known hazards to avoid liability. They must take extra precautions if there are any children who may not be capable of recognizing obvious hazards.

Property owners are not generally liable for the injuries of trespassers, who enter a property without permission. You may be considered a trespasser if you were previously an invitee or licensee but were injured in an area of the property you did not have permission to enter. For example, you may not have a case if you went into an employee’s only area of a grocery store and subsequently slipped and fell. 

In summation, you may have a slip and fall case if:

• You had permission to be in the specific area of the property where the incident occurred
• You slipped due to a hazard that the property owner knew or should have known about but failed to property address
• You were not doing anything inherently dangerous (such as running or wearing improper footwear) at the time of the incident

We recognize that these distinctions and conditions can be confusing. Our Tempe slip and fall attorney can review your circumstances and determine whether you have a strong claim.

Protecting Yourself after a Slip and Fall in Arizona

Slipping and falling in front of others can be embarrassing, especially when the incident was not your fault. You may want to leave the scene as quickly as possible, but this is a mistake that could make it harder to recover compensation. If you do not require emergency medical attention, there are certain things you should do before walking away.

After a slip and fall incident, you should:

• Confirm you do not need to go to a hospital. Are you bleeding? Do you feel dizzy or unsteady? A blow to the head may require immediate treatment, and your health comes first. Call 9-1-1 and get help if necessary. 
• Gather evidence. Take photos and videos of the hazard that caused the fall, including any insufficient warning signage (or lack thereof). You should also document your injuries and flag any witnesses that saw what happened. Make note of any security cameras that could have captured the incident.
• Speak to the person in charge. Track down the property owner or whoever is currently overseeing the property. Explain what happened and ask them to create an incident report. Review this report for accuracy and get a copy before you leave. If you did see a security camera, ask for a copy of the footage.
• Never admit fault. Whenever you are speaking to the property owner, the person in charge, or any witnesses, avoid saying anything that could imply you were partially responsible for the accident. Even a statement like “I am so clumsy” could work against you later on.
• See a doctor. If you have not already received medical attention, you should still get checked out, even if you feel relatively fine. Slip and falls can lead to injuries that are not always obvious to the naked eye, and discovering these injuries as soon as possible will be crucial to getting appropriate treatment and a fair amount of compensation. Be sure to carefully follow all of your doctor’s treatment advice.
• Get in touch with the Law Offices of Douglas B. Price. The property owner, their legal representation, or their insurance company may reach out in the days after an accident, but do not make any statements until you have discussed your case with a lawyer. We are ready to serve as your advocate and will handle all communications on your behalf.

Recovering Damages in an Arizona Premises Liability Lawsuit

You do not have an unlimited amount of time to pursue a slip and fall lawsuit. In Arizona, you have only two years from the date of the accident to start the legal process. Should a slip and fall result in death, you will have two years from the date of your loved one’s death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. You will most likely be barred from recovering damages if you miss the pertinent deadline, so do not wait to get legal advice.

Our Tempe slip and fall lawyer will fight to recover compensation for all applicable losses, including:

• Medical bills
• Lost income and earning capacity
• Emotional distress
• Physical pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium 

We may be able to reach a favorable settlement without going to trial. Should this not be possible, we are more than ready to take your case to court and fight for a fair and just resolution.

Do not wait to discuss your options if you were injured in a slip and fall. Contact us online or call (480) 345-8100 to get started today.