Reno slip, trip, and fall accidents vary depending on the conditions causing the injury and the parties involved in a case. However, these types of injuries have one thing in common. They are mostly 100% preventable. Whether you are a guest in someone’s home or shopping in a grocery store, you have the right to an environment where your safety is protected.
That’s why the skilled Reno personal injury attorney at Lerner and Rowe is here to provide more information about slip and fall injuries and how to prevent them from happening to you.
What Are Your Rights after Reno Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents?
Reno slip, trip, and fall accidents are largely dependent upon Nevada premises law. If you are a guest on a property, the owner has a duty of care to prevent conditions that may cause an injury. Here are some examples where premises law applies:
- If you are on public property, like a parking lot, the municipal department maintaining that lot is obligated to prevent conditions that could cause an injury.
- If you are in a store, the business must clean up spills and obstacles that could cause someone to slip and fall.
- On private property, the owner must take action to prevent injuries granted you have permission to be on the property.
In a Reno slip, trip, and fall accident, Nevada recognizes three types of parties who could be plaintiffs (injured parties):
- Invitees are people invited to the property. The property owner must inspect the property for hazards. Invitees have the right to safe conditions that are proactively monitored by the property owner.
- Licensees are individuals, like vendors in a store, who are there for business. The property owner does not have to inspect for hazards. Licensees have the right to know about dangers on the property, but the property owner doesn’t have to actively monitor the property for safety.
- Lastly, trespassers are people who shouldn’t be on the property and have no legal recourse if they are injured.
Timeline to File a Reno Slip, Trip, and Fall Injury Claim
In the state of Nevada, plaintiffs have a strict time frame called the statute of limitations to file their claim. The statute of limitations in Nevada is generally two years from the date of the injury, or when the injury was discovered. The statute of limitations may be delayed in some situations, such as if the plaintiff is disabled at any point in time during the statute of limitations.
The statute of limitations protects the rights of the plaintiff and the defendant, respectively, by giving the plaintiff time to gather information about their injury and by protecting the defendant from potentially frivolous lawsuits.
How Common Are Slips and Falls in Reno?
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), slips, trips, and falls are the second most common personal injury in 23 different states. In Nevada, they are also the second most common personal injury. Some common causes of slips, trips, and falls include:
- Poor lighting
- Wet and slippery conditions in a highly trafficked area
- Obstacles that block an area
- Conditions due to inclement weather
- Recreational areas, like pool decks
- Heights and lost balance
- Damaged walkways, such as sidewalks and stairwells
Slips, trips, and falls can also cause a plethora of different injuries. These can include:
- Bruises, sprains, and strains, which are soft-tissue injuries
- Broken bones, such as a wrist or arm, from a person trying to break their fall
- Concussions and brain injuries from hitting the head
- Cuts, lacerations, and internal injuries
These accidents can also cause chronic health conditions, most commonly in older individuals. For example, a slip, trip, and fall accident resulting in a spinal injury could reduce mobility. There are also common psychological issues that can arise from a slip, trip, or fall, including severe fear of falling, depression, and anxiety.
How to Protect Your Rights after Reno Slip, Trips, and Falls
English v Wal-Mart is a Reno, NV, case that shows many things that went wrong for the plaintiff. First and foremost, when the plaintiff fell, they admitted that nothing caused their fall. Secondly, the plaintiff provided negligible evidence proving fault and causation in their case, only a flier from the store on safety. To protect your rights in a slip, trip, or fall accident:
- Minimize your communication with others about the incident. When reporting the accident, simply discuss the conditions surrounding the fall.
- The plaintiff filed their case more than one year after the injury, reducing the reliability of potential witnesses to the fall.
- The defendant negated at least one aspect of negligence in the slip-and-fall accident, and the plaintiff’s own deposition helped the defense.
In a slip, trip, and fall accident, a lawyer can help you preserve your rights and minimize mistakes.
Contact a Lerner and Rowe Reno Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer
Here at Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys, our northern Nevada legal team is proud to give people the information they need to stay safe and avoid injuries while walking around Reno. They will fight hard for our clients who have been injured in slip and fall accidents to ensure they get the compensation they deserve. Our dedicated Reno trial lawyer has a proven track record of success in securing settlements for those hurt in accidents in Reno, Nevada, and surrounding cities. We will fight for you every step of the way.
Get started today with a free consultation by giving us a call at 775-644-4444 or filling out an encrypted contact form. You can also connect with our LiveChat representatives. Our Reno injury lawyer works under a “no win, no fee” promise, so you won’t pay anything unless we win. Reach out today to begin your free, no obligation consultation.