Who is Liable in a Slip-and-Fall Accident in Waipahu?

Were you injured in a slip-and-fall accident? Are you wondering who might be responsible for your injuries and the financial strain they’ve caused you?

Even a seemingly minor fall can have lasting consequences for victims. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 42,000 people nationwide died from accidental falls in one recent year. Costly medical bills and missed wages mean slip-and-fall accident survivors often take a substantial financial blow.

Many Hawaii slip-and-fall accidents result from a property owner or manager’s negligence. Landowners are responsible for maintaining their premises. When a hazardous condition puts others at risk, the responsible party may be held liable if someone gets hurt.

If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a slip-and-fall accident on Oahu, reach out to Recovery Law Center today. Our experienced attorneys have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for personal injury victims. We have the knowledge and resources to handle the toughest cases and a track record to prove it. Call or contact us today for a free consultation.

What are Slip-and-Fall Accidents?

A slip-and-fall accident happens when someone slips, loses their balance, and falls to the ground. Whether you fall forward, backward, or sideways, the impact from a slip and fall can cause significant injuries all over the body.

If you slip and fall on someone else’s property in Hawaii, you may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit, also called a premises liability claim. Premises liability means that landowners must keep people on their property safe within certain parameters set by state law. If property owners violate these laws, they may be held financially responsible for any accidents and injuries that occur.

Determining Liability After a Slip and Fall

Unlike many states, Hawaii does not differentiate between different types of visitors to a property in premises liability cases. Regardless of why you are on someone else’s property, the property owner must protect you from known hazards or ones they can reasonably be expected to know about. This guideline means property owners must repair hazards and ensure that anyone who visits the property knows about any dangerous conditions.

Property owners are not necessarily the only parties who can be held liable for a slip-and-fall accident. Managers, employees, and certain other groups may be accountable depending on the facts of the case. What matters is whether the property owner or another party knew (or should have known) about the danger and what actions they took to mitigate it.

Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents

Slip-and-fall accidents can happen for many different reasons. The most common causes of slip and falls include:

• Spilled liquids – Water, drinks, cleaning products, and other slippery substances that spill onto the floor of a residence, restaurant, business, or workplace can cause someone to lose their footing and fall.
• Weather – Property owners should ensure that entryways, hallways, stairwells, and other areas are protected if inclement weather makes them slick.
• Loose objects – Anything that clutters the floor of a property, such as a child’s toy or a packing box, can cause a slip-and-fall accident.
• Broken sidewalks or other pathways – Busted concrete or uneven pavement on a property’s walkways can cause someone to slip, trip, and fall.
• Stray electrical cords – Electrical cords should be placed along walls or properly covered on a property to prevent accidents.
• Sloped walkways without proper handrails – A steep walkway can cause someone to slip and fall, especially if the areas aren’t equipped with handrails to help visitors maintain their balance.
• Poorly maintained stairways – Broken stairs, litter, and other tripping hazards can be deadly if someone slips and falls.
• Construction site hazards – Open pits, wet floors, uncovered holes, and debris pose a threat to construction workers and anyone in the vicinity of a construction site.

Common Types of Injuries

Slip-and-fall accidents in Hawaii frequently cause severe injuries, such as:

Getting Compensation for a Slip-and-Fall Accident

After a slip-and-fall accident, the critical point to prove is that the at-fault party either knew about the hazard or should have known about it. You will need to show that the liable party should have taken appropriate steps to minimize the threat to you, either by making timely repairs or placing warning signs alerting visitors of the danger on the premises.

Proving liability in a slip-and-fall accident can be challenging. There must be a reasonable expectation that the liable party should have known about the condition that caused the accident. But “reasonable” is a broad term, so you need strong evidence to strengthen your case.

Examples of evidence commonly used to support slip-and-fall claims include:

Collecting as much evidence as possible at the accident scene is critical. Spills get cleaned up, repairs get made, and puddles evaporate. You need someone gathering the proof before it disappears. The legal team at Recovery Law Center can get the job done for you. We want you to rest so you can heal and move forward in life.

Reach Out to a Hawaii Slip-and-Fall Lawyer Today

Property owners often fight claims made against them after a slip-and-fall accident, but that does not mean you should back down. When you hire a Hawaii slip-and-fall accident attorney from Recovery Law Center, you have a fighting chance to recover the money you need for your medical bills, lost income, and other expenses. There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain by scheduling a free consultation. Call or contact us today.