Slip and fall accidents can be incredibly damaging and can leave victims with many injuries ranging from minor bumps and bruises to severe spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. These accidents can occur anywhere in Fresno, from your local corner store to your favorite restaurant. Victims of slip and fall and trip and fall accidents may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the place of business responsible for the accident. However, filing a personal injury lawsuit can be incredibly challenging especially for native Spanish speakers who are unfamiliar with the legal process. If you are a native Spanish speaker and have been injured in a slip and fall lawsuit, you may be able to seek legal representation from a Fresno slip and fall attorney that speaks Spanish to help you sue the store or store owner for the damages that you have suffered. At Normandie Law Firm our experienced Spanish speaking Fresno attorneys can guide you through the process of building a case, filing a claim, and collecting monetary compensation for the damages that you suffered. If you have any questions after reading this article, please feel free to reach out to our Spanish speaking law firm for a free consultation from one of our top-rated legal advisors.
Slip and Fall Accidents
As mentioned prior, slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere at anytime. They can be caused by a wide variety of hazards from wet floors to lit shopping areas poorly. Under premises liability law, property owners and managers are expected to provide a reasonably safe and secure environment for their patrons and customers. If they fail to do so, and their negligent actions result in a trip and fall or slip and fall injury, that injured party has every right to sue the property owner for the damages. However, the process of doing so can be relatively complicated. This issue is exacerbated for native Spanish speakers in Fresno who are unaware of the complete legal process. Fortunately, our Spanish attorneys with experience in slip and fall accidents can help guide you through the process.
One important component of every slip and fall accident is able to identify the damages suffered. Being able to pinpoint what kind of injuries you endured accurately, and the severity of these injuries can make a huge difference in the overall value and outcome of your case. Listed below are some of the common injuries slip and fall accidents can cause:
- Head Injuries: Head injuries can range from minor contusions (or brain bruising) to more severe traumatic brain injuries or TBIs. Some TBIs can cause ongoing seizures, mood changes, cognitive impairment and other debilitating symptoms. In most cases, head injuries require emergency room treatment, or hospitalization and in more severe cases can result in death.
- Hip Fractures: Hip fractures often require surgery and extended hospitalization. In some more serious cases, surgery may be necessary to implant an artificial hip. Out of every five hip fracture patients, one of them dies due to their injuries
- Back and Spinal Cord Injuries: Injury to the spinal cord can lead to permanent paralysis, temporary paralysis and other severe neurological and sensory impairments
- Shoulder Injuries: slip (trip) and fall accidents can result in shoulder dislocations or more severe forms of shoulder injuries called brachial plexus injuries. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that connect the shoulder, arm, and hand to the spinal cord. These injuries are often treated with surgery followed by extensive physical therapy
- Sprains and Fractures: The force of slipping and falling can cause minor to severe bone injuries. In some cases, the impact of the ground could cause minor sprains, in others; it could cause debilitating bone breakage that may result in temporary disability. Some of the common fractures that victims suffer include hip, spine, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm and hand.
These injuries and many others that are caused by slip and fall accidents can leave victims with damages that extend beyond the physical. To put it simply, hospitalization can be expensive, and for some of these injuries, a wide series of immediate treatment and physical therapy may be required to recover fully. During this process of recovery, many victims are unable to work resulting in a loss of wages, and even a potential loss of future wages. Fortunately, with the help of a Fresno slip and fall attorney that speaks Spanish, you could file a claim for monetary compensation to cover these and many other damages.
How To File A Slip and Fall Accident Lawsuit In Fresno
When Spanish speaking clients from Fresno come into our law firm seeking legal representation for their slip and fall or trip and fall injury case they are often left in the dark as to their legal rights as injured customers. We tell these clients that victims of slip and fall accidents at properties and places of business have a right to monetary compensation for these damages, under premises liability law. Premises liability law in the state of California dictates that property owners are expected to notify patrons and customers of potential hazards. The law also states that these property owners are expected to remedy hazards within a reasonable span of time. If this is not done, and such negligent actions result in a slip and fall accident or trip and fall accident the victims have every right to sue for the damages.
When filing these lawsuits, a skilled attorney who can speak Spanish will recommend that you follow and understand the statute of limitations that influence your case. The statute of limitations is a state-mandated time limit injured plaintiffs have to bring their case to court. If they fail to bring their case to court within this time, they will more than likely have their case dismissed from court. The statute of limitations can change depending on the nature of your case as well. For instance, a personal injury lawsuit for a slip and fall accident in Fresno, California, must be filed two years from the date of when the accident occurred. There are also a large number of exceptions to the statute of limitations which should be taken into account before filing your case. A skilled Spanish speaking attorney can help you understand not only the statute of limitations but whether or not any exceptions apply to your case. Listed below are some of the exceptions that could be present in your case:
- The Defendant was out of State for a period: If a defendant was absent from the state, the statute of limitations pauses until the defendant returns.
- The plaintiff is a minor: If the injured party is a minor, meaning below the age of 18, the statute of limitations does not run until the said minor turns 18.
- Mental incompetence of the plaintiff: If a plaintiff is judged as mentally incompetent during their injuries or the actions of the defendant, then the statute of limitations are paused throughout this incompetence.
- Death of the plaintiff: If a plaintiff dies before the statute of limitations runs its course, then a lawsuit can still be filed in the statute of limitations period. However, if six or fewer months remaining on the statute of limitations at the time of the plaintiff’s death, then the suit must be filed within six months of the plaintiff’s death.
- Plaintiff’s prison sentence: If a plaintiff is imprisoned, California law dictates that the statute of limitations is tolled until the plaintiff is released, or for two years whichever comes first.
- Plaintiff’s Military Service: If a plaintiff is serving in the military the statute of limitations is automatically tolled for the entire duration of the plaintiff’s service
After a slip and fall or trip and fall accident at a place of business or property, it is crucial that you report your accident as soon as possible to the management or staff on-hand. The sooner you report your accident and your injuries the less likely they will be able to dispute your claims in court. It is also crucial that you collect evidence that supports your case. This evidence can take the form of medical records detailing your damages, photographs that detail the hazard and your injuries, and video footage from the store or property security cameras. This evidence can then be used to bring forward a claim of negligence, which plays a crucial role in every slip and fall accident case.
A claim of negligence essentially proves the specific negligent actions of the defendant and that those actions directly caused the damages of the plaintiff. A successful claim of negligence can be reached with substantial evidence and the assistance of a Spanish speaking slip and fall and trip and fall attorney. Listed below are the key components that make up a claim of negligence:
- Duty: The plaintiff (injured or damaged party) must be able to show that the defendant (property owner or retail owner) owed a legal duty to the plaintiff under the particular circumstances of the case.
- Breach: The plaintiff must be able to show that the defendant breached said legal duty through specific actions or failure to act appropriately
- Causation: The plaintiff must be able to show that the defendant’s actions or lack thereof caused the plaintiff’s injuries
- Damages: The plaintiff must be able to show that they endured some specific damages. This can usually be shown through the presentation of medical records, a loss of wages, or a loss of potential income.
Regardless of the specific aspects of your case, if you are a native Spanish speaker that has been injured in a slip and fall accident, it is in your best interest that you seek legal representation from a Spanish speaking slip and fall lawyer in Fresno. Having the right attorney by your side can make all the difference between receiving adequate monetary compensation for your damages and having your case dismissed from court.
How Normandie Law Firm Can Help
If you or a loved one is a native Spanish speaker and have suffered injuries as a result of a slip and fall accident you may be eligible to file a claim for monetary compensation. However, when filing claims of this nature, it is always recommended that you seek legal representation from a Fresno slip and fall accident attorney that speaks Spanish. At Normandie Law firm our Spanish speaking personal injury attorneys can guide you through the often arduous process of bringing your case from the filing process to the settlement process. If you file a claim with our Spanish speaking law firm, you may be eligible to receive compensation for some if not all of the following damages:
- All of you medical and hospitalization costs
- All of your future medical care and treatment
- A loss of income and loss of future earnings due to long-term recovery or permanent disability due to the accident
- Compensable economic damages include loss of property or damaged property.
- Compensable non-economic damages include emotional distress, trauma, PTSD resulting from the accident, pain and suffering and anxiety.
Native Spanish speakers who have experienced damages as a result of a slip and fall accident in Fresno can contact our law offices to learn more about how to receive compensation for their injuries. While our law firm is based near Fresno, our attorneys also practice in Oakland, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Orange County, Riverside, Los Angeles, and throughout the state of California.
Free Second Opinions
Other attorneys will sign you up for their firm but will disappear once your name is on the paper as they are busy signing up more cases. In these instances, their business is based more on volume and will attempt to sign up as many cases as possible. In turn, they will spend less time on cases resulting in severely reduced settlements. Our firm will not treat you like a number. We will be in communication with you throughout our lawsuit and will treat you like family. So if you already have an attorney don’t worry, we’ll give you a second review of your case 100% free of charge.
Zero Fee Guarantee-No Upfront Fees Ever
If you contact our law offices today, we can walk you through the complicated process of filing your claim completely free of charge. As a show this commitment to you and your case we offer our clients the benefits of a zero fee guarantee policy. Under our zero fee policy, all clients don’t pay for our services until their case is won. If you feel in need of a second opinion, second opinion case reviews are also free under this policy. Please, feel free to give us a call, and we can guide you down the path of receiving proper compensation for your damages.
Premises Verdicts and Settlements
Our experienced injury lawyers have successfully recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients. Below, we present to you a brief list of our more recent slip and fall, and premises liability verdicts and settlements. If you have any questions regarding your slip and fall case, feel free to contact our law office.
