The Experienced Slip & Fall Injury Attorneys at Ron Bell Fight to Protect Your Rights
The dedicated slip and fall lawyers at Ron Bell take the time to teach injury victims about their rights and the options they have throughout the case. We work hard to ensure that insurance companies deliver fair compensation to those who have been injured due to someone else’s negligence.
What Can the Team at Ron Bell Injury Lawyers Do for You?
List of what we do:
- Review medical records
- Investigate the scene of the slip and fall injury
- Research property ownership and find out who is liable
- Help you understand the legal process
- Negotiate with insurance companies
- Conduct eyewitness interviews
Who is Liable for a Slip and Fall Injury?
Slip and fall injuries can be caused by negligence of a variety of people and businesses. People who may be liable for slip and fall injuries can include:
- Business Owners
- Property Owners
- Tenants
- Property Management Companies
Determining who is at fault for a slip and fall injury may require investigation that includes finding who the owner of the property is and if they should have taken steps to avoid the hazardous conditions or if a tenant or business owner may be responsible.
For example, if there is a spill on the floor and there are no “Caution Wet Floor” sign, this could be considered the tenant or businessowner’s fault. However, if a staircase is broken, and there is no sign to caution users of the stairs, it could be considered the property owner’s fault.
Is it Hard to Win a Slip and Fall Case?
It can be difficult to win a slip and fall case, especially if you don’t collect evidence immediately after the incident happens. Spills can be cleaned up, broken stairs can be fixed quickly, and those who could be held responsible for the injury may try to cover up preventable hazards.
Having a strong personal injury lawyer on your side can help you win a slip and fall case and get the compensation you deserve.
How to Find the Best Slip and Fall Lawyer
If you’re looking for the best slip and fall lawyer in New Mexico for your case, the first thing you should consider is how long the attorney has been practicing. Additionally, you can learn about the attorney’s reputation by looking at reviews on Google.
The best slip and fall lawyers in New Mexico will work on a contingency fee to ensure you don’t pay a dime unless they get results.
What are common causes of falls?
Common causes for slip and fall accidents can include:
- Wet or slippery floors or stairs
- Uneven pavement or broken concrete
- Broken stairs
- Debris in walkways
- Broken railings or stairs
- Poor lighting in walkways or outdoors
- Distracted walking or running
- Wearing the wrong shoes for the terrain or situation
It’s important to avoid rushing because that can distract you and cause you to miss hazards that can cause serious injuries.
What are the most common injuries after a slip and fall?
If you’ve fallen and twisted your ankle, you may think that slip and fall injuries aren’t that bad. However, slip and fall injuries can be deadly. Some common injuries after a slip and fall include:
- Hip and Pelvic Injuries: Broken hips and pelvic bones may be more common in elderly slip and fall victims. However, they can occur with any slip and fall injury. These types of injuries can happen if the victim lands on their side, causing a stress fracture to the hip bones or pelvic bone.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries: If someone falls backwards and their head bounces off a hard object, including the pavement, head or brain injuries can occur. Traumatic brain injuries can range from a minor concussion to skull fractures and brain damage.
- Muscle Injuries: Soft tissue injuries like sprains, strains, and muscle or ligament tears can happen quite frequently with slip and fall scenarios. In some cases, these injuries happen when the person attempts to stop himself or herself from falling using their muscles. In other cases, these injuries can happen when the muscles, ligaments, and tendons are twisted rapidly and violently.
- Broken Bones or Fractured Bones: When you slip and you’re beginning to fall, you may think to use your hands or legs to try to catch the fall. This may protect you from a traumatic brain injury, but it can cause fractures in other bones, including the ankles, wrists, arms, and legs.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Nerve damage, paralysis, and herniated discs can occur when someone slips and falls.
- Denal Injuries: If a fall happens fast, you might not be able to catch yourself, and that can lead to your face hitting a hard object. This can sometimes lead to broken teeth that require orthodontic surgery to repair.
Can you be partially responsible for a slip and fall accident in New Mexico?
Yes. New Mexico fault laws are based on pure comparative negligence. You may face a reduction in settlement amounts based on the percentage you’re at fault for the injury.
Things that could contribute to you being partially at fault for a slip and fall injury in New Mexico include:
- Intoxication
- Being distracted (on your cell phone or not paying attention)
- Being in a restricted area
- A lack of evidence
To avoid being found at fault for a slip and fall injury, it’s important to collect as much evidence as possible as soon as the injury occurs. If you are unable to take pictures or video of the scene, try to ask bystanders or witnesses to help.
What to do immediately after a slip and fall
The very first thing you should do after a slip and fall is assess whether or not you need medical attention. If you hit your head, no matter how “fine” you feel, you should go to the emergency room. Symptoms of brain bleeds, or intracranial hematomas, “may take weeks or longer to appear.” So seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Collect as much evidence as you can after a slip and fall injury
It’s essential to take as many pictures and videos of the scene as possible while you’re there. Show the issues, take pictures of everything around you, even if it feels insignificant or doesn’t seem to apply to your fall. Taking pictures and video of the area may prove that there were no warnings of the hazardous conditions that caused your fall.
Take witness statements. You may hear something like, “I told them to clean that up!” or “I knew someone was going to fall on that.” Ask witnesses for their names, contact information, and anything they saw or did before or during the fall. This can help you build a case and prove that a property owner or businessowner was negligent.
Contact a New Mexico Slip and Fall Attorney
The experienced attorneys at Ron Bell Injury Lawyers have been helping slip and fall injury victims get the help they deserve for over 45 years. They work hard to investigate potential negligent parties and help you file your claim. Additionally, they negotiate with insurance companies to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.
