If you are a legitimate visitor or guest on someone else’s property, you are owed a duty of care by the owner under California’ premises liability law. This means the owner took reasonable steps to prevent the possibility of an accident that can cause you to be injured. Stepping on sharp objects is one of most common accidents on commercial properties, which can lead to puncture wounds with dangerous complications.
Did you sustain an injury to your foot from stepping on broken glass, nails, needles, or another sharp object? In that case, consult the personal injury lawyers of Normandie without delay. If your accident was caused by the business or property owner’s neglect, or that of an employee working for the owner, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. However, many people attempt the injury claims process on their own and end up with low, inadequate settlements. Our lawyers will fight for the maximum value of your losses and ensure that you receive justice from the responsible party.
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Most Common Locations for a Sharp Object Injury
We are stepping on something just about every minute of the day, so we really don’t think about the dangers of what’s underneath our feet. However, stepping on a sharp object can inflict serious harm, as the bottom of your foot is a very delicate area. Even if your feet are protected by shoes, sharp objects like glass shards and injection needles can puncture through the soles and penetrate the layers of your skin.
Injuries from stepping on a sharp object can happen just about anywhere, though they are especially common in the following locations:
- In a store
- Restaurant
- Apartment complex
- Office building
- In a park
- Bar
- Nightclub / day club
To protect yourself from life-threatening health conditions, please seek medical attention right away if you’ve stepped on a sharp object on someone else’s property. Then, contact our law firm to speak with a stepped on sharp object on the floor injury lawyer. We can advise you of your rights and legal options during a free case evaluation.
What kind of Injuries can I Sustain from Stepping on a Sharp Object?
Immediate medical attention, as well as follow-up appointments with a foot specialist may be needed to prevent severe complications following a puncture wound to your foot. These conditions include:
- Nerve damage – If the object embeds itself deep enough in your foot, it may sever the nerves in that area, which can lead to great difficulty with basic tasks, like walking, driving, and going up the steps.
- Infections – Rusty nails, dirty needles, and other dangerous objects are common sources of serious infections when they puncture the skin. To protect you from deadly complications, doctors may administer injections and medications to help prevent tetanus, MRSA, and other serious infections.
- Permanent scarring – as scar tissue develops over the skin, you may experience significant pain and find it difficult to walk or place weight on your foot. The pain may continue after the scar has fully formed, since any amount of unnatural pressure on the bottom of your foot can cause pain.
- Hard cyst – This type of wound is the result of a foreign object that isn’t removed from the foot. Like scar tissue, it can be very painful to deal with even after the initial wound has healed.
Can I Sue the Owner if I Stepped on a Sharp Object on their Property?
You may have grounds to sue the owner of the property you were injured in based on Civil Code 1714, also known as California’ premises liability laws. Essentially, you would have to prove that the owner owed you a duty of care as a party that had a right to be on the premises (a patron or customer, for example). Then, you would have to prove that the owner, management, or staff at the location failed to take care of a hazard that they knew about or should have known about. Finally, you must show that the hazardous condition is directly responsible for your injury. Proving these elements is quite complicated, so make sure to work with an attorney who can implement the right legal strategies.
These strategies will depend on many circumstances, including the type of entity you are suing. For example, are you suing a privately owned business, such as a bar or nightclub? Or, are you suing a government entity, like the county of Los Angeles? The procedures for an injury claim are fairly straightforward when the defendant is a private property owner. But things are a bit more complicated with public agencies, which we will talk about in the next section.
Lawsuits against Public or Government Properties
Injuries from stepping on sharp objects are very common in public parks, community pools, city streets, and other government-owned properties. However, these entities enjoy a certain level of protection against lawsuits, and there are very strict rules governing the compensation process. It’s important to note that you must submit an injury claim to the proper authorities within 6 months of your accident.
It’s best to get help from an attorney with this process. For one thing, many people have problems figuring out which entity owns the property in question – is it the city, county, state, or the federal government? You may also be confused by the filing procedures and required information for your claim, which can vary from agency to agency. Once you submit your claim, you should hear back from the agency within 45 days. If they reject your demands or fail to respond to you in 45 days, you can proceed with a lawsuit to recover your damages. There is much more to know about the process of suing a public agency, so please take some time to speak with a lawyer at our office.
Compensation from a Successful Lawsuit
The injuries from stepping on a sharp object on the floor create numerous losses for the victim, which include much more than the cost of medical treatments. In a lawsuit against the negligent party, you can ask for the following damages:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
- Cost of legal representation
If the damage to your body is significant enough, you may be entitled to on-going expenses, like future lost wages and medical treatments. Most victims are unaware of all the compensation they are eligible to receive, which is why it’s so important to seek legal advice as soon as possible. Our attorneys will help you figure out which damages apply to your case and how to determine a fair compensation amount.
What is the Average Value for these Cases?
The average value for a stepping on a sharp object accident case is something most people ask us about during their initial consultation. Some of them have researched the topic ahead of time and are disappointed to find that the average claim settled for as low as $5,000. But those statistics are usually based on settlements that were negotiated without an attorney. The values are a lot higher when a skilled lawyer is fighting for your rights.
Still, there’s no “average” number that we can apply to sharp object injury claims as a whole. At our office, claims on the lower end have settled for $25,000 to $60,000. On the other hand, we’ve secured $500,000 to over $1 million for clients with severe, long-term injuries. The level of negligence by the property owner matters as well. If the actions that caused your accident were especially harmful or egregious, you may be awarded punitive damages as a way to punish the defendant. Punitive damages alone can exceed $1 million in some cases, which is a significant addition on top of your settlement award.
At the end of the day, these are estimates that should only be used for general purposes. If you’d like to discuss the value of your own case, call us to schedule a free consultation.
How much Time do I have to File a Lawsuit?
The statute of limitations for most personal injury lawsuits in California is 2 years. You can start the clock from the date of your accident, unless your injuries appear at a later time. If so, your statute of limitations begins on the date of discovering an injury from the accident. Either way, the deadline to take legal action is absolute in most cases. If you miss the filing deadline for your case, which may be as short as 6 months for a government / public agency claim, you will most likely forfeit the right to monetary damages. Contact us right away to initiate the recovery process and receive the compensation you deserve.
How long will it take to get Paid on my Case?
After questions about case values, this is the biggest concern on most people’s minds. We understand the urgency to receive the money you are owed as an accident victim. But the amount of time it takes to settle a case depends on many complications that we cannot foresee. On the one hand, we can say that the majority of claims at our office are settled within 6 to 8 months. However, the negotiation process can be longer – between 12 to18 months – for high value cases (6 figures and up). Cases with the longest settlements timelines are the ones that proceed to a lawsuit, which can take up to several years to resolve.
Schedule a Free Second Opinion
You may be used to second opinions from doctors, but lawyers can provide the same service if you have questions about an active injury claim. There are many reasons to seek a second opinion, and for some people, they simply want verification that their case is headed in the right direction. Others are dissatisfied with the service from their attorney and wish to know the pros and cons of switching lawyers in the middle of a case. By meeting with one of our attorneys, you can discuss your available legal options and decide on the best course of action. Keep in mind there is no fee for the consultation whatsoever, nor is there any pressure to transfer your case to us. Our lawyers are waiting to speak with you, so please contact us for a free second opinion.
Zero Fee Guarantee
Worrying about your finances is natural after an accident, and it’s the number one reason many people skip out on talking to an attorney. This puts you at a serious disadvantage when you are fighting for compensation after a serious accident. With Normandie Law Firm, you don’t have to choose between financial instability and effective legal representation.
Our attorneys work on contingency, so you have no responsibility for our expenses. Our bills get paid by the at-fault party, and that happens at the same time you receive your settlement. What happens if we don’t win your case? We eat the costs and you walk away without paying us a dime. It’s that simple under the terms of our Zero fee guarantee.
We are more than ready for the challenge of taking on your case. Give us a call to schedule a free, no-obligation case review.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Stepped on Broken Glass Injury Lawyer
Trip and Fall on Step Ladders Injury Attorney
Stepped on Broken Glass at Hotel Injury Lawsuit
