Injured in a Las Vegas slip and fall accident? The experienced premises liability attorneys at Wooldridge Law Injury Lawyers provide strong, results-driven representation for your personal injury case.
We thoroughly investigate each case, gathering evidence to build a strong argument for you. Our team looks at everything – from accident reports and medical records to witness statements and security footage. Our deep understanding of slip and fall laws helps us fight for the money you need to cover medical bills, lost income, and other hardships.
We keep you informed every step of the way. You’ll always know what’s happening with your case and what to expect next. While you focus on getting better, we’re working hard to protect your rights. We deal with insurance companies and other lawyers so you don’t have to. Our goal is simple: to get the best result possible for you and your family. We’ve helped many others in similar situations, and we’re ready to put our experience to work for you.
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Plan your routeWhat to do after a Las Vegas slip and fall accident?
If you’re involved in a slip and fall accident in Las Vegas, take these immediate steps:
Ensure your safety
Assess yourself for injuries, including less obvious ones. If you feel dizzy or have ringing in your ears, you may have hit your head, which requires immediate medical attention. Be cautious of moving if you feel back pain, as this could indicate a spinal injury.
Be cautious in your communications
From the moment of your fall, be aware that anything you say can potentially impact your case. In Nevada, conversations with insurance adjusters can be recorded and used in court. Use neutral language like “I fell” rather than “I slipped,” as this doesn’t imply fault. Politely decline to give a recorded statement without legal representation.
Seek immediate medical attention
Don’t underestimate “minor” symptoms. A slight headache could be a sign of a concussion, while tingling in your extremities might indicate nerve damage. Shock can set in quickly, masking pain, so professional evaluation is crucial even if you feel fine.
Report the incident
When reporting to management, maintain the neutral language mentioned earlier. In Las Vegas casinos, ask specifically for the risk management team, as they handle injury reports differently from general security. Request a copy of any incident report filed.
If you’re injured from a slip, trip, or fall at a Las Vegas hotel or casino, be cautious. To protect their reputation, management might offer you complimentary items or free stays. However, accepting these comps from hotel security or management could jeopardize your right to future injury compensation.
Document the scene
Take photos or videos, noting the time of day and lighting conditions. In Las Vegas, casino floors often have intentionally disorienting patterns that can contribute to falls – document these if relevant. If outdoors, record weather conditions, as Las Vegas’s sudden rain showers can create unexpectedly slippery surfaces. Collect contact information from any witnesses.
Preserve evidence
Keep your shoes and clothes unwashed, as residue can prove slippery conditions. If you fell on a mat or rug, try to obtain a sample of the material or detailed photos of its texture.
Document your injuries and recovery
Include seemingly unrelated symptoms in your documentation. For instance, sleep disturbances or mood changes can be indicators of a traumatic brain injury. Note how your injuries affect your ability to engage in both day and night activities.
Best slip and fall attorney Las Vegas
At Wooldridge Law Injury Lawyers, we bring decades of experience and a deep understanding of Las Vegas slip and fall cases to your side. Our dedicated team combines local knowledge and legal expertise to build the strongest possible case for you. We’re committed to not just representing you, but to supporting you through every step of your recovery journey.
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Common injuries we see in slip and fall injury claims
Sprains
Sprains are among the most common injuries sustained in slip and fall accidents across Nevada. A sprain occurs when ligaments, the tough bands of fibrous tissue that connect bones to each other, are stretched or torn. This type of injury typically results from a sudden twist or impact that forces a joint out of its normal position. In the context of slip and fall accidents, sprains often happen when an individual slips on wet floors, blind steps, or trips over uneven carpeting, leading to awkward landings on hands or feet.
The severity of a sprain can vary greatly. Mild sprains may cause discomfort and swelling but do not significantly impair one’s ability to move around. Severe sprains, however, can render a victim immobile and may require extensive medical treatment including physical therapy or even surgery.
Broken hip
A broken hip is one of the most severe and life-altering injuries that can result from slip and fall accidents in Las Vegas. The consequences of a hip fracture are not only physically debilitating but can also lead to significant emotional distress and financial strain due to medical bills and lost wages.
When discussing a broken hip resulting from a slip and fall incident, it’s crucial to understand the gravity of this injury. The hip is a critical component of the body’s mobility system; thus, any damage can severely impact an individual’s ability to move freely. This type of injury is especially serious for elderly individuals or those with pre-existing conditions, as it often leads to prolonged medical treatment and sometimes permanent disability.
Broken bones
Broken bones from slip and fall incidents can range from simple fractures that may heal with minimal medical intervention to complex breaks requiring surgery, physical therapy, and extended periods of recovery. Commonly affected areas include:
- Wrists and Arms: When individuals fall, it’s instinctive to extend the arms to break the fall. This action often results in broken wrists or arms.
- Ankles: Twisting or rolling one’s ankle on uneven walking surfaces or due to slippery conditions can lead to fractures.
- Legs: Including both lower leg bones (tibia and fibula) and thigh bones (femur), which are more challenging to recover from due to their weight-bearing role.
- Ribs: A direct impact during a fall can crack or break ribs—a painful condition that complicates everyday activities like breathing.
Soft tissue damage
Soft tissue injuries encompass damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons caused by sudden or unnatural movements during a fall. These injuries can range from minor sprains and strains to more severe conditions such as torn ligaments or tendinitis. Common symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, and loss of function at the injury site—symptoms that may not appear until days after the accident.
In Las Vegas slip and fall cases, soft tissue damage often occurs due to slippery walking surfaces in casinos, grocery stores, parking lots, or even on poorly maintained walkways and carpeting within business premises.
Head injuries
While many focus on the more visibly severe injuries such as broken bones or life-threatening head traumas, non-life threatening head injuries also deserve significant attention due to their potential impact on victims’ lives.
Non-life threatening head injuries can range from mild concussions to moderate head traumas that do not result in long-term disability but still require medical treatment and can cause considerable discomfort and disruption to one’s daily life. Symptoms might include headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, or temporary memory loss. It is crucial for accident victims to seek immediate medical care following a slip and fall incident to accurately diagnose the extent of their injuries.
Life threatening head injuries
Unfortunately, slip, trip, and fall accidents can result in severe and potentially life-threatening head injuries. We have seen numerous cases where accident victims have suffered traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), concussions that escalated into more serious conditions, skull fractures, and other critical head traumas as a result of slip and fall incidents on both public and private premises.
Life-threatening head injuries can occur even from seemingly minor falls. The danger lies not just in the immediate impact but also in the potential for secondary complications such as swelling, bleeding inside the skull (intracranial hemorrhage), or blood clots (hematomas) that can exert dangerous pressure on the brain tissue. These conditions require immediate medical treatment to prevent long-term damage or death.
Why hire our Las Vegas slip and fall accident attorneys?
Nevada is our home, and we want to help defend its people
At Wooldridge Law Injury Lawyers, our Las Vegas slip and fall lawyers represent injury victims across Las Vegas and Nevada. Slip, trip, and fall accidents often lead to severe injuries, hefty medical bills, and major life disruptions. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, our team is here to support you after any slip and fall accident. We investigate each case thoroughly, using our deep knowledge of Nevada’s premises liability laws to pursue the compensation you deserve. If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall, you need attorneys who understand these complex cases and truly care about your recovery. Choose Wooldridge Law Injury Lawyers – we put slip and fall victims first and fight tirelessly for your rights.
Call our slip and fall lawyer near you in Las Vegas
(702) 867-8900Types of compensation for slip and fall injuries
Victims of slip and fall accidents in Las Vegas may be entitled to various types of compensation. Understanding these can help you and your attorney pursue a fair settlement.
Medical expenses
Medical expenses form a significant part of compensation, covering all related treatments. This includes emergency room visits, hospitalization,
surgeries, follow-up procedures, physical therapy, rehabilitation, prescription medications, and necessary medical equipment like crutches or wheelchairs. Future medical care related to the injury is also considered.
Lost wages
Lost wages compensation accounts for time missed from work due to injuries. This encompasses not only salary or hourly wages lost during recovery but
also lost bonuses, commissions, and benefits such as contributions to retirement accounts. If the injury affects your long-term ability to work, reduced earning capacity is also factored in.
Pain and suffering
Pain and suffering compensation addresses both physical and emotional distress caused by the accident. This includes physical discomfort from injuries,
emotional trauma, anxiety, or depression resulting from the accident. Loss of enjoyment of life due to physical limitations and compensation for permanent scarring or disfigurement also fall under this category.
Loss of consortium
If the injury affects the victim’s relationship with their spouse, loss of consortium may be claimed. This covers loss of companionship and intimacy. In cases of extreme
negligence, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the responsible party, though these are rare in slip and fall cases and require proof of willful or reckless conduct.
Lost opportunities
In some cases, compensation may be awarded for lost opportunities, such as missed business opportunities or cancelled vacations due to the injury. If the slip and fall
accident resulted in death, wrongful death damages may be claimed, covering funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support for dependents, and loss of companionship and guidance for family members.
Property damage
Property damage compensation covers repair or replacement of personal items damaged in the fall, such as phones, watches, glasses, or clothing. Out-of-pocket
expenses related to the accident are also considered, including transportation costs to medical appointments, home modification expenses if required by the injury, and costs of hiring help for tasks you can no longer perform.
Nevada laws in slip and fall accident claims
Nevada’s comparative negligence Rule
Nevada uses a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar. Under this rule, if you’re found to be 51% or more at fault for the accident, you cannot recover any damages. However, if you’re 50% or less at fault, you can recover damages, but your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if a customer falls in a casino and is found to be 20% at fault, with total damages of $100,000, they would receive $80,000. This amount reflects a 20% reduction based on their share of fault.
The amount of compensation can vary widely depending on the severity of injuries, the impact on your life, and the strength of your case. An experienced Las Vegas personal injury attorney can help you understand what types of compensation you may be eligible for and work to maximize your recovery.
Statute of limitations for slip and fall accidents claims
Under Nevada law, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a slip and fall lawsuit against the property owner or responsible parties. This timeframe applies to cases seeking compensation for personal injuries resulting from a slip and fall incident. It’s important to note that if you are pursuing a claim solely for property damage (for example, if an expensive watch was broken during your fall), you would have three years from the date of the accident to file your claim.
However, exceptions can modify these standard periods:
- Discovery Rule: If the injuries were not discovered right away—and it was not reasonable to discover them—the clock might start ticking from the date you discovered or should have reasonably discovered your injuries.
- Government Entities: Claims against government entities require a different procedure where you must file a notice of claim within six months before filing any lawsuit. This specifically applies to Federal Tort claims, only.
- Minors: The statute is tolled (paused) for minors until they reach 18 years old; however, once they become adults, they typically have two years to take action.
Visit our slip and fall injury attorneys near you in Las Vegas for a free consultation
If you or a loved one fell, tripped, or slipped anywhere in Nevada, then visit the offices of Wooldridge Law Injury Lawyers located at 400 S 7th St, Ste 490, Las Vegas, NV 89101. Can’t make it to our office? We’ll come to you! Call us now at (702) 867-8900, or contact us through our website, to schedule your free case evaluation with Las Vegas’ most experienced injury attorneys. We serve clients throughout Nevada.
Frequently asked questions about slip, trip, and fall accidents in Nevada
What is the slip and fall law in Nevada?
In Nevada, a person who was injured as a result of an owner’s failure to maintain his or her property only has 2 years to file a claim in court. This law falls under premises liability, where property owners have a duty to maintain safe conditions for visitors. The state also uses a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar for recovery.
What is the highest payout for slip and fall?
A slip and fall lawsuit in Nevada typically begins with the victim seeking medical attention and consulting an attorney. The attorney then investigates the accident, gathers evidence, and attempts to negotiate a settlement with the property owner or their insurance company. If negotiations fail, a lawsuit is filed, followed by the discovery phase, possible mediation, and potentially a trial if no settlement is reached.
How does a slip and fall lawsuit work?
A contingency fee is a payment structure where an attorney’s fees depend upon winning the case. The attorney only gets paid if they secure a settlement or a court award for the client. The fee is a percentage of the settlement, typically ranging from 20% to 50%. This is common in personal injury litigation where the client seeks monetary compensation.
On the other hand, a flat fee is a fixed amount that a client pays to an attorney for a specific service, regardless of the case’s outcome or the time spent on the matter. This payment structure is often used for more predictable legal work, such as drafting wills, handling straightforward divorce proceedings, or dealing with certain criminal defense cases.
The main difference between the two lies in the payment’s dependence on the case outcome: contingency fees depend on winning the case, while flat fees are paid upfront and are not tied to the case result.
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