Slip and Fall on Ice in Public. Do I Have a Case?
Summary Slips and falls on ice injure thousands of Minnesotans each year. Determining liability in a case involving a slip and fall on ice in a public area can be challenging. Property owners, governmental entities, and homeowners can face liability after these accidents. Hiring a personal injury lawyer will be an injury victim’s best chance of obtaining maximum compensation. Minnesota transforms into a picturesque winter wonderland, blanketed in snow and ice in the winter months. However, this seasonal beauty brings the potential hazards of slippery surfaces, especially in public areas. A slip and fall on ice in public can have catastrophic consequences. Icy surfaces can be very dangerous, seeing as slip and fall accidents account for 40% of all brain injuries in our state. December through March are especially dangerous. There are an average of 1,500-2,000 more incidents during the winter months compared to the rest of the year. If you find yourself a victim of such an incident, it's crucial to understand your rights and whether you have a viable case for compensation. The following is a look at some of the more common settings for slips and falls on ice in public and the liability property owners and...
The Use of Expert Witnesses in Slip and Fall Cases
Summary: Expert witnesses can often make the difference in a slip and fall case. Nearly 40% of all brain injuries in Minnesota result from falls yearly. Effective expert witnesses in slip and fall cases communicate technical concepts in a way people can understand. Types of witnesses include medical, biomechanical, and premises liability experts. Expert witness testimony can be powerful, but attorneys must carefully choose them. Slip and fall accidents can result in serious injuries, leading victims to pursue legal action to seek compensation for their damages. Attorneys commonly use expert witnesses in slip and fall cases to help strengthen their clients’ cases. These professionals bring specialized knowledge to help clarify complex issues, assess liability, and provide valuable insights that can influence the outcome of a slip and fall case. At Sand Law, our slip and fall attorneys have relationships with several experts who have helped our clients obtain the money they deserve. If you want to know how we can help you, please schedule a free consultation by contacting us online or calling 651-291-7263. Understanding Slip and Fall Cases Slip and fall accidents are the No. 1 cause of brain injuries in Minnesota, accounting for nearly 40% of all head...
How Ice and Snow Cause Slip and Fall Accidents
Summary: Slipping and falling on ice and snow can cause catastrophic injuries. Unfortunately, state law doesn’t provide guidance on who is responsible for clearing ice and snow from a property. Municipalities typically establish those rules. Injury victims must contact an experienced attorney to have the best chance of obtaining compensation. On average, between 1,500-2,000 people suffer severe injuries after falling on ice in Minnesota from December to March. That number is twice the amount of fall-related injuries over the other eight months of the year. Slip and fall accidents during winter aren’t just a matter of inconvenience. They can lead to severe injuries and legal complications. The attorneys with Sand Law have a great deal of experience helping clients who suffered severe injuries after slipping on ice or snow due to another’s negligence. If this has happened to you, we’re ready to help you obtain maximum compensation. Please call 651-291-7263 or contact us online for a free consultation. Who’s Responsible for Clearing Ice and Snow? This question is more complex than you may assume. Several Minnesota cities have ordinances requiring property owners to clear sidewalks within 24 hours after an ice or snow event. There are rare instances where someone...
Minnesota Slip and Fall Laws
Like all areas of personal injury law, slip and fall accidents can be complicated, with several nuances and intricacies. Minnesota slip and fall laws can be complex, but we’re here to walk you through it. We’ll investigate the incident to determine who was to blame. Once we determine fault, we’ll work hard to ensure they pay for your suffering. Please schedule a free consultation as soon as you can by contacting us online or calling 651-291-7263. What Is A Slip And Fall Accident? Slip and fall accidents occur when an individual suffers an injury due to dangerous conditions on someone else’s property. In Minnesota, they’re the leading cause of injury for people 35 years and older and children. Our state consistently ranks among the highest in the country for slip and fall fatalities. These incidents happen for many reasons. For instance, slipping on an untreated sidewalk or stumbling over uneven flooring during the icy winter months can lead to severe injuries. A person can suddenly lose their footing on a slippery grocery store aisle because an employee failed to clean up a spill. Someone could visit a friend’s house and trip over a toy carelessly left in the middle of...
How Must Businesses Prevent Slip and Fall Accidents?
Every retail store – or any other business open to the public, for that matter – owes the people coming into that business a duty to do whatever possible to prevent slip and fall accidents. When the business fails to do so, and someone is injured, the victim may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit. At Sand Law, we’ve helped many clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries because a business failed to take the steps necessary to protect their customers. If you or someone close to you fell due to the negligence of anyone associated with a grocery store, a retail location, or any other place that invited the general public to enter, we may be able to help you as well. You can schedule a no obligation, free review of your case by giving us a call at 651-291-7263 or using our online contact form. These are just some of the steps businesses are supposed to take to protect customers from slips and falls. Conduct Regular Inspections Of Potential Hazards And Document Them Employees must check the premises on a regular basis to identify areas that pose the highest risk for slip and fall accidents. They should...
I Was Injured on a Dangerous Staircase. Can I Sue?
Falling down the stairs can result in serious injuries, such as brain, back, and neck injuries. These severe injuries often require expensive long-term medical treatment. Victims of slip and fall accidents or staircase accidents are often left with high medical bills, change to their quality of life, and overall mental anguish. Each year falls account for 8 million visits to the emergency room. Falls are also the leading cause of visits to hospitals and emergency rooms at 21.3%. The risk of fatality associated with a fall increases with age. This means that the elderly are at the highest risk for severe injuries and death associated with falls. This is why, while it’s important everywhere, staircase design is especially important inside nursing homes, to prevent these accidents from occurring. If you or someone you love has been involved in a slip and fall accident as a result of a dangerous staircase, you can file a lawsuit against the at-fault party to receive compensation for your damages. Can You Recover Compensation For Being Injured In A Fall Down Stairs? Yes, you can recover compensation for a fall down the stairs, if your fall was caused by another person’s negligence. In this case,...
Common Parking Lot Slips, Trips and Falls
Parking Lots Are A Common Site For Slips, Trips, And Falls. Common Types Of Parking Lot Hazards Parking lots can be incredibly hazardous for many different reasons. It may not seem like it, but parking lots are filled with places to trip, slip, and fall. Parking lots that aren’t well maintained may be even more dangerous. Someone could easily fall because of certain hazards a company may have failed to take care of properly. If you have an accident in the parking lot of a business, you may be able to build a lawsuit against the company. Negligence may have been involved in your accident so contacting an attorney is a sure action to take. If your accident occurred because any of the reasons listed below, there may have been negligence at play. Slips, trips, and falls in parking lots are the leading cause of death for elderly people. People with existing injuries or disabilities are more likely to be injured in parking lot accidents. If you own a business or building with a parking lot, it’s important to ensure that your lot is safe to protect those who enter your building. Wheel Stops When you park your car, sometimes...
Why Construction Accidents Are So Common and How to Prevent Them
Construction Workers Are At A Higher Risk For Injuries On The Job, Including Even Fatal Injuries. Members of the workforce know that all careers come with their own set of drawbacks. Without a doubt, some are inherently more dangerous than others. Construction workers spend their days using heavy tools and machinery, often at intimidating heights. Accidents can happen at any moment. In fact, one in five workplace fatalities in the private sector come from the construction industry. If you’re in this line of work, you may have even witnessed some of the most common accidents in motion. However, they don’t have to be an inevitable part of the job. Learning more about how they happen can help you to recognize and avoid surrounding dangers. What Causes Construction Accidents? There are so many moving parts on construction sites. Therefore, it can be complicated to pinpoint the cause of an accident. Human error, a lack of adequate equipment, or a combination of the two is often to blame. Additionally, there are only a handful of types of accidents that recur as a result of the most common causes. Falls Recent research showed that over the course of a year, almost 34% of...
6 Most Common Types of Wrongful Deaths
Wrongful death claims can be brought against someone who has caused the death of another person. This death can be caused by negligence or intentional action. Wrongful death claims allow people to file a lawsuit against whoever was legally liable for the death. Lawsuits for wrongful death are usually filed by a representative of the deceased person’s estate or a surviving family member. Wrongful death claims can be applicable in many situations. When a victim is intentionally killed, the family can sue for wrongful death. Car accidents, medical malpractice, and many other accidents that involve negligence can also result in a wrongful death lawsuit. Car Accidents The most common cause of wrongful death cases is, unsurprisingly, car accidents. There were over 7 million police-reported traffic crashes in 2016. In those crashes, 37,461 people died. In Minnesota, there were 79,215 traffic accidents reported in 2018. Of those accidents, 381 people died. That’s 6% more than in 2017. Of those 381 fatalities, 258 were motorists, 45 were pedestrians, 7 were bicyclists, and 58 were motorcyclists. Common Causes of Auto Accident Wrongful Deaths Auto accidents have a lot of different causes as roads can be a dangerous place. With technology becoming an extension...
Winter Slip-and-Fall Injuries in Minnesota
Minnesota Winter Slip And Fall Injury Claims Slip-and-fall injuries are some of the most common grounds for premises liability claims in Minnesota. The legal theory of premises liability is that the owners and operators of a property need to exercise a reasonable amount of care to ensure that the property is safe for the people who use it. If the premises are unsafe, then the landowner may be liable for injuries caused by his or her failure to exercise reasonable care. Premises Liability And Winter Slip And Fall Claims Premises liability is especially applicable to businesses because they rely on the public being able to safely use their property in order to make a profit. Businesses money on advertising to drive more traffic into their stores. Therefore, the amount of care that is reasonable for a business to exercise is much higher than it is for a homeowner. The law expects businesses to have policies and procedures in place to ensure that the property is safe for visitors. Additionally, employees must be adequately supervised in implementing those safety procedures. What Causes Minnesota Winter Slip And Fall Injuries? During Minnesota winters, many people are injured by dangerous conditions caused by snow,...