A slip and fall lawyer in Tulare is needed when someone is injured at a public or private place and needs to sue the responsible parties for the accident. A slip and fall or trip and fall accident is unique because oftentimes liability is not clear and needs to be investigated by a competent attorney. Our slip and fall lawyers practice in Visalia, Tulare, Hanford,  Tulare county, Kings county, Porterville and other nearby areas to help you obtain the maximum compensation that you deserve for your injuries.

The South San Joaquin Valley is the richest agricultural region in not only California, but perhaps the entire country. As such, the region sustains many large agrobusinesses in the production of various products ranging from cattle and dairy to fruits nuts cotton and wine. Tulare County and its major cities; Tulare, Porterville, Hanford and Visalia, are at the heart of this region. The pollution of the county has grown considerably over the past decade, and as of 2010 the county sustains a population of over 500,000 residents and thousands more migrant farm workers.

Our law firm is dedicated to providing legal services on behalf of residents who have suffered severe injuries in slip and fall accidents. Our attorneys possess the knowledge, experience, and resources needed to make sure our clients receive the maximum level of compensation available for their injuries. Below you will find important information regarding slip and fall accident lawsuit and settlements. If you have any further questions or if you would like to start your claim feel free to contact our law offices. All legal consultations and case reviews are provided by our attorneys free of charge. If you are located in Tulare City, Hanford, Visalia, or Porterville, don’t hesitate to call us.

Protecting Your Legal Rights Following a Slip and Fall or Trip and Fall Accident

There are certain steps that a victim of a slip and fall or trip and fall need to follow.

1. Seek medical attention immediately after the fall: Documentation of your injuries suffered from the fall can be an important factor in determining the value of your case. Many injured victims will fail to seek medical attention believing that their injuries will mend with home care and therapy. This is a mistake; courts and potential juries will assess your injuries at a much higher evaluation if there has been medical documentation to support the fact the you suffered harm from the fall.
2. Ask the manager, store owner, or security for an incident report to be taken. Once an incident report has been taken ask for a copy of the report or ask for the claim number or reference number. Many times store managers will attempt to hide evidence of the fact that an accident took place on their property; a copy of an incident report should prevent manager or property owner from destroying relevant evidence which may be needed to establish fault.
3. Take down the information of any witnesses to the accident: If there were individuals who witnessed the fall ask for their contact information including their name and phone number or the best way to contact them.
4. Gather evidence: Take pictures of where you fell, what made you trip or slip, and any other relevant evidence including lighting, weather conditions, and presence of any defects or warning signs.

One of our trip and fall lawyers in Visalia, Hanford, Porterville, and Tulare City will be able to help you compile all of this evidence and all of these statements so your claim will be accepted by the necessary, responsible party.

Taking Care of Your Medical Expenses and Treatment

Unfortunately many injured victims do not have medical insurance or do not have access to needed medical care even if they have insurance coverage. As a result, our law firm has established relationships across the state of California, including Hanford and Visalia, with medical doctors, hospitals and treatment facilities with expertise in the field in traumatic injuries that can provide needed medical treatment for our clients with no out of pocket costs. Our medical team works exclusively on medical liens; meaning that they will place a lien for your medical expenses and receive payment once the case has reached a successful settlement. There are many injures which can befall victims of slip and falls. A list, brief description and required medical care have been provided below.

• Spinal cord injuries resulting in back and neck pain is the most common injury resulting from slip trip and fall accidents. Victims who are experiencing such pain should receive an evaluation form a pain management doctor, orthopedist with a specialty in spinal cord injuries or a neruo-surgeon. Furthermore, imaging of the spinal cord via an MRI or CT-scan may be needed to properly diagnose your injuries. Victims may receive help via physical therapy or chiropractic care. If pain does not subside after a few week or month your physician may provide you with epidural injections, PRP injection or more evasive procedures.
• Orthopedic injuries including torn rotator cuff, broken ankle, and damage to your knees: Damage to your extremities is very common following a slip and fall accident. Victim may receive medical attention from an orthopedist with a specialty in care for the extremities of the body. Victims with torn rotator cuffs or ACL ML tear may have to undergo a medical procedure to fix the issue.
• Hand and Wrist Damage: When falling, many individuals attempt to break their fall by using their hands. Unfortunately many will suffer severe damage to the hand and wrist resulting in aggravating pain and the inability to use their hands. Since the wrist and hands are rather delicate body parts orthopedist doctors with a specialty in hand and wrist damage should evaluate your injuries and prescribe the proper course of medical care and attention.
• Facial injuries: Common facial injuries include dental damage, broken jawbone, TMJ injuries, ocular damage, broken nose, facial lacerations, and tinnitus (ringing in the ear). Victims with any dental damage or damage to the jaw should receive treatment from an oral surgeon. Individuals who have suffered from tinnitus (chronic ringing in the ear) should be evaluated by an ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctor; an audiologist may be required in order to test for and diagnose a tinnitus injury.

Winning Your Case in the Court of Law

Under California premises liability law, the vast majority of slip trip and fall cases are based on the negligence theory of liability. In order to establish liability four basic elements have to be proven.  (1) Was there a duty owed by the defendant to the plaintiff (injured party) bringing the cause of action in the court of law. (2) Was there a breach of the duty owed to the at victim of the accident. (3) Causation: Did the specific breach of the duty cause the accident. (4) Injuries: did then person bringing the cause of action suffer harm.

Examples of breach in premises liability cases: Some examples of a breach in the duty of care include the following.

(1) Defectively built stairwells.

(2) Failure to place warning signs.

(3) Poor lighting.

(4) Loose handrails.

Settlement Value of Your Case – Average Slip and Fall Case Recovery in South San Joaquin Valley

Perhaps the most frequently asked question by our clients concerns the amount of compensation that is likely in their case.  Like snowflakes no two cases are the same; each case comprises of a set of differing components which can play an important part in determining an overall value. Below we have provided a list and brief description of the important factors which can potentially play a significant role in determining the value your case.

1. The type of injury that was suffered by the victim of the slip and fall accident, and the severity of it. For example a rotator cuff injury resulting in required surgery will likely garner a higher potential settlement in comparison to a soft tissue injury like a bruised shoulder.
2. Current and future medical treatment associated with the injury that was suffered by the victim.
3. Level of economic damages: Loss of income and future loss of earnings capacity due to the long term presence of injuries or permanent disability due to the accident. For example, suppose the victim used to make $100,000 a year but now he can only make $40,000 a year due to his injuries. He is owed $60,000 a year.
4. Level of non-economic damages: Non economic damages include mental anguish as well as pain and suffering based on the injuries suffered by the victims. Often, following an accident, victims will suffer from post traumatic stress, anxiety, depression and flashbacks.
5. Availability for Punitive Damages: Generally in the state of California victims of personal injury may be eligible to receive punitive damage compensation in cases where the at fault party acted with malice intent to cause harm or in gross recklessness for the life and health of visitors onto their store or property.
6. The available insurance policy limits of the property or the store: In the state of California property owners who purchase their property via a mortgage are required to carry a commercial policy with coverage limits based on the valuation the property at the time of sale. Policy limits of commercial property can range anywhere from $250,000 and up. Our Tulare slip and fall lawyers can perform an investigation to find out 1) whether defendant is liable and 2) whether they have insurance.

Why Us – Choosing the Right Law Firm Can Make All the Difference

The primary goal of our law firm is to make sure our clients receive the highest possible settlement for their injuries. As a result of our large size of the resources at our disposal we are able provide the highest qualify legal services for our personal injury clients. A brief list of our services is provided for below. For further information, reach out to a slip and fall attorney in Visalia or elsewhere.

• 24 hour access to our law firm. You are able to contact us any time of day or night including weekends and holidays for any questions you may have.
• Transportation to and from your doctor’s appointments.
• Access to top doctors in the field of trauma related injuries.
• Field of investigators and specialists with the single minded aim to establish fault on the part of the property owner.
• ZERO FEE Guarantee – You will never have to pay for any of our legal fees or expenses out of pocket.
• Top rated attorneys who can maximize your recovery. Our team of attorneys, paralegals and case managers are devoted to our clients needs and will work diligently to make sure you receive the compensation deserved.

Attorney Consultation Available Free of Charge

Our slip and fall attorneys in Tulare, Visalia, and surrounding areas never charge our clients upfront fees. Victims of personal injury should receive the legal representation they need in order to maximize the amount of compensation they are entitled to. If you would like to speak with an attorney regarding your accident claim or if you have an existing attorney and would like to receive a second opinion contact our law offices. All legal case reviews and consultations are provided free of charge for all individuals who call our offices or fill out our online form. Our slip and fall attorneys are dedicated to providing the legal services necessary for our clients.