Michael D. Waks Long Beach Personal Injury Lawyer & Car Accident Attorney

A Lawyer You Can Trust

No Fee Unless You Win

Call888.394.1174

Available 24/7

  • Home
  • Attorney Profile
  • Reviews
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury Lawyer Long Beach
    • Personal Injury Lawyer Cardiff
    • Motor Vehicle
      • Auto & Car Accidents
      • Bus Accidents
      • Distracted Driving
      • DUI Victim
      • Motorcycle Accidents
      • Truck Accidents
      • Wrongful Death
    • Premises Liability
      • Construction Accidents
      • Premises Liability
      • Electrical Accidents
      • Private Property Accidents
      • Slip and Fall Accident
      • Swimming Pool Accidents
    • Other Practice Areas
      • Brain Injury
      • Burn Injury
      • Bicycle Accidents
      • Boating Accidents
      • Dog Bite Accidents
      • Legal Malpractice
      • Pedestrian Accidents
      • Product Liability
      • Sexual Assault
      • Spinal Injury
  • Case Results
  • Videos
  • Resources
    • California Law Enforcement Information
    • California Personal Injury Laws and Statutory Rules
    • Other Resources
    • Personal Injury Law FAQs
    • Personal Injury Resources
    • Physical & Emotional Recovery Support
    • Southern California Courts
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Why Is Early Gathering of Evidence Important In A Slip and Fall Case?

July 12, 2016 by Michael Waks

personal injury lawyer slip and fallSlip and fall accidents are the #1 cause of accidents in hotels, restaurants and public buildings.  Yet many slip and fall accident cases are unsuccessful.  Why?  Because a slip and fall case is not just about whether you slipped, fell and hurt yourself.  It is based on a claim that the property owner was negligent in allowing some dangerous condition to exist, and that caused you to slip and fall.  As a personal injury lawyer I know that getting evidence quickly after a fall is key to winning your case.

People traumatized by an accident often do not pay careful attention to the dangerous condition that caused them to fall, so an investigation and reconstruction of the accident may be necessary.  This is where an experienced personal injury lawyer is invaluable.

Winning a Slip and Fall Case

The evidence in a fall case needs to prove that more likely than not the property owner knew, or should have known, there was a dangerous condition, yet failed to take appropriate action.  According to California Civil Jury Instructions 1003 the victim of a fall injury can be compensated for damages if he or she can show the owner and/or tenant, did not properly care for the property.

An owner and/or renter who fails to either repair a dangerous condition, or warn visitors about it, can be held liable for injuries incurred as a result.

Evidence Used in a Slip and Fall Lawsuit

There are many types of evidence that can be used to show how an owner/tenant failed to take reasonable care to prevent harm to another.  These include:

  • Testimony from expert witnesses.  Reconstruction experts can recreate how the accident occurred; engineers can testify about how slippery a floor was; building construction professionals can testify about building code violations; medical professionals and vocational experts can present testimony regarding the extent and impact of injuries, and the related earnings losses.
  • Photographs from the scene.  Photos taken by the victim, or witnesses, at the scene can show the hazard that caused the accident.
  • Testimony from eye witnesses.  Anyone who saw the fall can independently corroborate the conditions and circumstances surrounding the accident.  Obtaining their statements early is important as memories fade and witnesses often times disappear.
  • Documents obtained through discovery.  Victims can obtain maintenance logs, inspection reports, safety manuals, employees emails and other documents from the property owner.  These can show deficiencies in maintaining the property, unaddressed maintenance issues such as worn or buckling floors, problems found during inspections, or a lack of proper inspection and/or followup.
  • Local and national building codes.  Building code violations show the property owner fell short in creating safe premises.

The more evidence a victim has in a slip and fall case, the stronger the claim, and the greater the likelihood of obtaining full compensation for injuries.  Having solid evidence is beneficial when negotiating a settlement and when presenting a case in court.   These are very difficult cases to win and it is therefore essential that a compilation of the necessary pieces of evidence are obtained as quickly as possible.

How a Long Beach Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

Your Injuries are Personal to Me

My law practice exclusively handles personal injury cases.  If you were injured in a slip and fall accident, you can make a claim to get compensation from whoever was responsible for causing the accident.  I handle every case personally to make sure you receive the maximum compensation for your injury losses.

Call the Law Office of Michael D. Waks at 888-394-1174 or use the convenient online contact form to schedule a free consultation.  As a Long Beach personal injury lawyer I can help if you’ve suffered an injury in a slip and fall accident.

You will be under no obligation and you will never pay any money unless you recover compensation for your losses.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Michael Waks
Michael Waks
Michael Waks is an aggressive advocate for people who have suffered because of someone else’s actions. Michael decided to become a personal injury lawyer when, while clerking at a legal defense firm during law school, he witnessed and was infuriated by asbestos manufacturers spending millions to avoid taking responsibility for the egregious injuries they caused. Immediately after passing the bar, Michael opened his own firm in Long Beach, CA to help the victims of personal injury accidents get every benefit owed them under the law.
Michael Waks
Latest posts by Michael Waks (see all)
  • How to Help Your Loved One Cope with a Spinal Cord Injury - October 27, 2021
  • How Can I Prove a Motorist Fell Asleep in Traffic? - October 20, 2021
  • Filing a Truck Accident Claim? Avoid These Common Mistakes - October 13, 2021
Share here...
Avatar for Michael Waks

About Michael Waks

Michael Waks is an aggressive advocate for people who have suffered because of someone else’s actions. Michael decided to become a personal injury lawyer when, while clerking at a legal defense firm during law school, he witnessed and was infuriated by asbestos manufacturers spending millions to avoid taking responsibility for the egregious injuries they caused. Immediately after passing the bar, Michael opened his own firm in Long Beach, CA to help the victims of personal injury accidents get every benefit owed them under the law.

Law Office of Michael D. Waks

Get a Free Consultation

  • Submission of this form does not create an attorney-client relationship.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Testimonials

Michael represented me in a personal injury case and I can’t recommend him enough. From the very first consultation he made sure that I was always aware of my options and up to speed with every aspect of my case. He answered all my questions and used his experience and expertise to help guide my decisions instead of trying to make them all for me. He not only ensured that the settlement I received was more than enough to cover all my bills and expenses but he also made sure I had piece of mind and would be taken care of going forward.

– Eric G.‎
Read More Testimonials

Categories

  • Bicycle Accidents
  • Boating Accidents
  • Brain Injuries
  • Burn Accidents
  • Bus Accidents
  • Car Accidents
  • Construction Site Accidents
  • Disability
  • Distracted Driving Accident
  • Dog Bites
  • DUI Victim
  • Electrical Accidents
  • Government Entity Claims
  • Legal Malpractice
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Pedestrian Accidents
  • Personal Injury
  • Premises Liability
  • Private Property Accidents
  • Product Liability
  • Sexual Assault
  • Slip and Fall
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Train Accidents
  • Truck Accidents
  • Uncategorized
  • Uninsured Motorists
  • Wrongful Death
– BACK TO TOP –

Visit Us

Long Beach Office
1 World Trade Center, Suite 800
Long Beach, California 90831
P: 562-206-1939
F: 562-676-4388
Get Directions

Cardiff Office
160 Chesterfield Dr., Suite 200
Cardiff, CA 92007
760-767-8031
Get Directions

Call Us

888-394-1174
SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION
Personal injury lawyer Long Beach
Car accident lawyer Long Beach
Google Review
  • review_star
  • review_star
  • review_star
  • review_star
  • review_star

Michael Waks is The attorney you want to resolve your accident issues, period. He is knowledgeable, efficient, and gets maximum results when you are injured.

— Joe M
  • facebook-app-symbol
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • youtube
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Scholarship
  • Sitemap

This website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as providing formal legal advice.

Copyright © 2022 by Michael D. Waks Long Beach Personal Injury Lawyer & Car Accident Attorney

Website & SEO By Sutton Digital Marketing