Archive for the ‘ Slip and Fall’ Category

Slip and Fall Cases – Documenting the Scene of the Accident

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

If your slip and fall case reaches trial, it will be crucial that you and your Orange County personal injury attorney present evidence establishing all of the relevant features of the scene of the accident. Fully describing the scene enables the jury to clearly envision what occurred and provides your expert witness a basis for his or her opinions. For instance, if you slip on a wet substance in the supermarket, the jury will need to know the color of the floor, the distances between various objects on the floor, the angle of the floor, what the floor looked like from your perspective, where the wet spot was located in relation to the cash registers, etc., in order to analyze what caused your fall to occur.

While you may be able to provide the jury a clear picture of the scene through testimony, offering photographic evidence is a far more effective means for conveying the material facts to the jury. As such, your Orange County personal injury attorney will take pictures of the scene as soon as possible after you retain him or her. In order for the pictures to be admissible at trial, they must accurately depict the scene as it was at the time of the accident.

In addition to taking photographs of the scene, a seasoned Orange County personal injury attorney will take physical measurements of the scene. Said measurements include changes in elevation in walkways, the dimensions of any cracks or holes, and distances between various objects. Expert witnesses need this information to evaluate the defendant’s precautionary measures and to opine as to whether they were reasonable.

Given the importance of documenting the scene, if you suffer a slip and fall that you believe arose from another person’s negligence, you should take pictures as quickly as possible. If you do not obtain pictures prior to consulting with your Orange County personal injury attorney, you should inform him or her during your first consultation that it is necessary to photograph the scene.

For assistance with your slip and fall case, please contact experienced Orange County personal injury attorney Samer Habbas at (888) 848-5084. The initial consultation is free.

What You Need to Prove In Order to Win Your Slip and Fall Case

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

If you suffer an injury following a slip and fall accident, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries if the accident was due to someone else’s negligence. Negligence is the failure to use reasonable care resulting in harm to another individual.

A slip and fall accident is common and can occur in many locations, including shopping malls, grocery stores, or the workplace. Usually, a hazard or dangerous condition exists in the location, and the condition of the property contributes to the plaintiff’s injury. For example, an uneven step in the entryway of a busy grocery store can be a safety hazard. This condition can cause individuals to trip and fall. To determine if you can file a lawsuit based on negligence, contact an Orange County personal injury attorney.

To win a slip and fall case, the victim must successfully prove that the defendant failed to use reasonable care in the maintenance and prevention of accidents on the property. The victim must also prove that the failure to use reasonable care caused the plaintiff’s accident.

First, the plaintiff must be able to show that a dangerous condition or hazard existed on the defendant’s property and the defendant knew about the condition and the likelihood that an injury could occur. Next, the plaintiff must show that the hazard or dangerous condition directly caused the plaintiff’s injury. However, many slip and fall accidents can be difficult to prove because there may not be any witnesses to the accident except for the victim. However, if the plaintiff can clearly describe the incident, an Orange County personal injury attorney will help a plaintiff effectively tell her story to the jury or judge.

If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, contact experienced Orange County personal injury attorney Samer Habbas today for a free initial consultation.

Two Fall from Chatsworth Apartment Window

Thursday, November 18th, 2010

Recent news reports from Los Angeles show that two young children fell from a third story housing unit while watching a large fire that threatened the Chatsworth community on Oct. 29. Chatsworth is a mixed-use Los Angeles suburb in the San Fernando Valley. A nearby conflagration drew the interest of the 3 year old and 18 month old toddlers, according to KTLA news, and both fell from the third floor window. Reports indicate one child was critically wounded, the other only superficially injured, and that both are recovering.

Incidents like this often lead personal injury law attorneys to look at whether proper safety equipment and safeguards were in place at the time of the incident. Although children must be supervised at all times, there’s also a legal responsibility on the part of landlords and property management companies, for example, to provide screening for windows, railings on terraces, and other reasonable safety gear in rental housing units. The mitigating circumstances, in this case a fire in a residential area, contributed to the incident, but when events like this strike a family, it can be hard to pin down exactly what factors are relevant to a personal injury claim. That’s why Southern California families rely on skilled Los Angeles personal injury lawyers who can draw a clear line from an accident or injury to the responsibilities of a third party.

If you are someone in your family has been hurt in a slip and fall accident or similar injury, talk to the California catastrophic injury lawyer at Samer Habbas. Mr. Habbas can look at the details of your case and provide clear instructions on how to get the best chance of obtaining an injury claim. Call 888-848-5084 and get experienced legal assistance on your side.

A New Hope for Those Who Suffer from Spinal Injuries

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Spinal cord injuries are very serious and can significantly alter victims’ lives. Most spinal cord injuries occur in automobile accidents. Slip and fall accidents can result in spinal cord injuries as well as injuries sustained in sports or violence. The treatment of injuries to one’s spinal cord and the use of stem cells have been highly debated and questioned and has become quite politicized. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of embryonic stem cells for use on humans, which potentially could have great benefits for those suffering from spinal cord injuries. Soon, a California company will be one of the first companies in the United States and in the world to begin stem cell research and trials on humans.
Stem cell therapy has really offered a bit of hope for those with severe spinal cord injuries. Los Angeles and Southern California personal injury attorneys also see hope in this new for treatment. Victims of accidents who have suffered spinal cord injuries now have a new option for treatment and some optimism. Treatments for such injuries had been limited. Those without the use of their limbs now see a treatment available that could help regain feeling. The process is just in the beginning stages, and it will undoubtedly continue to develop. We will then learn what stem cells can offer the medical world and just how versatile they can be.

The attorneys at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas are dedicated, and they represent the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. They can offer you qualified and skilled assistance in personal injury cases. Please call 888.848.5084 to talk to a Samer Habbas personal injury lawyer if you have been a victim or know someone who has sustained spinal cord injuries in an automobile or other type of accident. Call today to set up a consultation to discuss your case.

Slip and Fall Accident Information from Experienced California Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Every year, slips and falls cause more than one million injuries serious enough to warrant an emergency room visit. Any experienced California slip and fall accident attorney can tell you that slip and fall accidents are especially devastating to senior citizens who lack the reflexes and resilience that they once had. An Orange County slip and fall accident lawyer could also tell you that when we’re walking in any public place, we are entirely within our rights to expect the following:

  • Floors, stairs, ramps and other walkways are safe for walking.
  • If there is a potential hazard of any kind, the landowner or manager should make reasonable attempts to alert us to the hazard with signage and other markings.
  • If a hazard to others exists, it is incumbent upon the landowner to remove the hazard as quickly as possible.

However, if a slip and fall hazard exists, is not remedied and leads to someone slipping, falling and suffering injuries, the person or organization that owns the premises can be held liable for damages. This is where having the assistance of an experienced Los Angeles slip and fall accident attorney is very important.

An experienced California slip and fall accident lawyer can investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, build an effective case that indicates the responsible party’s negligence and help the injured party and his or her immediate family seek damages. If you or a close family member has been injured in a slip and fall accident, the attorneys at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas may be able to help. To schedule a free consultation to discuss your case, call them today at 888.848.5084.