People fall in commercial spaces like stores and restaurants, in industrial settings, and on other people’s property at alarming frequencies in the United States. Dan Caplis Law, our premises liability attorneys in Denver, knows the seriousness and the impact slip and fall injuries can have on you, your family members, and your loved ones. These falls are among the leading causes of brain injuries according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The law recognizes this danger and imposes an obligation on businesses, corporations, and landowners to maintain safe premises and warn of potential hazards.
If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a slip-and-fall caused by another person or business’s negligence then you may be entitled to compensation.
At Dan Caplis Law, our slip and fall attorneys in Denver are here to provide a consultation to you regarding your legal options at no upfront cost to you. Contact an attorney today by calling Dan Caplis Law at (303) 770-5551 or by filling out a contact form online.
Dan Caplis Law is Here to Help With Your Slip and Fall Claim
Our Denver slip and fall attorneys at Dan Caplis Law have significant experience helping clients who suffered injuries in slip and fall accidents. From intake to trial, you can trust that our attorneys are preparing your case for trial to maximize the compensation you will receive at your case’s resolution. Our slip-and-fall lawyers in Denver understand how to defeat the complex array of defenses an insurance company may raise to deny you the compensation you deserve, and they know how to prove that it was the defendant’s negligence that caused your injuries.
Perhaps most importantly, we genuinely care about our clients’ lives and in securing justice on their behalf.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Denver?
The risk of falling is ever-present, but many of the estimated 37.3 million falls the require medical attention annually can be attributed to negligence and are entire preventable.
Common causes include:
- Wet or slippery surfaces
- Loose or uneven flooring
- Broken staircases or handrails
- Tripping hazards
- Poor or inadequate lighting
- Uncleared debris
- Among many other causes.
If you or a loved one have sustained a slip and fall injury from inadequate working conditions, speak to our Denver work accident attorneys today.
What Are The Most Common Slip and Falls Injuries?
Slip and fall accidents can result in severe injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
- Spinal cord injuries. The Mayo Clinic lists falls as the second most common cause of spinal cord injuries, especially after the age of 65.
- Broken hips and other fractures. More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by slip-and-fall accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Other areas commonly broken during a fall include wrists, arms, and ankles.
- Soft tissue injuries. Falls often result in sprains, strains, and torn ligaments and tendons. Torn ACL, LCD, MCL, and PCL injuries are prevalent in slip and fall accidents and can cause severe pain and suffering.
- Lacerations, cuts, and abrasions. Some falls result in severe lacerations, others in scrapes, bruises, and minor cuts. However, even minor injuries can lead to infection and complications.
- Internal bleeding and organ damage. Many times, internal injuries are not immediately apparent, which is why you should have a medical evaluation after a slip and fall accident to help protect your health and your right to recover compensation for damages you may have suffered.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover After a Slip And Fall Accident in Denver, Colorado?
People who are injured in falls are eligible to receive financial compensation in the form of damages, this includes any physical damages like brain or back injuries. Damages are awarded for the purpose of making an injured person “whole,” or putting him back in the place he would have been if he had never been injured.
Generally, damages can be awarded for lost income, and those damages specifically award three types of lost income claims:
- Income the person lost between suffering the injury and resolving his or her case;
- Income the person will lose in the future as a result of the injury; and
- Income the person will not be capable of earning due to impaired capacity to earn an income caused by the injury.
Outside of lost income, people injured in slip and fall accidents are often able to receive compensation for the following types of injuries:
- Pain and suffering, which includes the physical pain inflicted upon the person as a result of their injury;
- Loss of enjoyment of life, which are damages to compensate the person for the loss of the activities they enjoyed doing before their injury.
- Emotional distress, which compensates the injured person for mental health problems afflicted upon them as a result of the slip and fall injury.
- An injured person’s medical expenses, which will include the reasonable value of the medical expenses they incurred due to the injury.
If you or a loved one have endured any brain damage from a slip and fall accident, contact our brain injury accident lawyers in Denver today.
How Much Is A Slip and Fall Case Worth?
The amount and type of compensation you may be able to recover depend on numerous factors, including the strength of your case and the severity of your injuries. After we have evaluated the facts of your slip and fall accident claim, we can give you an estimate of what we believe would be a fair settlement of your case.
In a successful slip and fall case, you may be able to recover economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include current and future medical expenses, current and future lost wages, and other financial losses or expenses incurred due to your accident and injuries.
Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, mental and emotional distress, loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, and other intangible losses caused by your accident and injuries.
At Dan Caplis Law, we work diligently to recover all available damages and to maximize your compensation.
Proving Negligence in Denver Slip and Fall Cases
Slip and fall cases generally are based on premises liability law. Colorado’s Premises Liability Act requires landowners to take precautions to protect visitors from harm. The level of duty owed by the landowner to protect their visitors from harm depends on the classification of the visitor.
A “landowner” is a broad term under the Colorado Premises Liability Act, and includes:
The person or entity who owns the property
Someone who is in possession of the property (e.g., a tenant)
Anyone responsible for the condition of the property or activities conducted there
This broad definition means that multiple people or entities may be held liable under the Act.
Landowners only owe trespassers a duty to refrain from intentionally harming them. In most cases, trespassers are unlikely to prevail in a slip-and-fall claim.
Licensees are visitors who come onto a landowner’s property for their benefit. A landowner owes them a duty of care to prevent injury from all known dangers.
Invitees are visitors who come onto a landowner’s property for business or commercial purposes. Landowners owe them the highest duty of care. They must take steps to prevent them from being injured by all known dangers and to address any hazards that could harm them.
Proving negligence in a Denver slip and fall case depends on your classification as a visitor. You would want to prove that you had a legal right to be on the property. Then, you must prove that the landowner breached their duty of care owed to you. Next, you would need to prove that the landowner’s breach of duty was the cause of your slip and fall accident. Finally, you must prove that you suffered actual damages from the accident.
What to Do After A Slip And Fall Accident in Denver?
The most important thing is your health. Many are embarrassed after a slip and fall and try to downplay the pain and injuries sustained. Please keep calm and assess your health. If you are injured, make a report with the property manager and get evaluated by medical professionals.
If able, take pictures of the hazard that caused your slip and fall. Whether it be a slick surface like ice, an uneven surface, or an unexpected obstacle.
If applicable, gather the contact information for any witnesses to what happened.
It is also important to contact an experienced Denver slip and fall lawyer at Dan Caplis Law to evaluate your claim. Legal claims operate on a use-or-lose basis, and evidence can be lost by a person’s decision to delay filing their case. At a minimum, a slip-and-fall attorney in Denver should be able to help you determine if you have a viable case.
Speak to Our Denver Slip and Fall Lawyers Today
The dangers of slip and falls are often underestimated, but at Dan Caplis Law, we understand how serious they can be. It is crucial that you be represented by a team of talented, dedicated attorneys who will counsel you at every step of your case. Call (303) 770-5551 for a free and confidential case evaluation or fill out our contact form online.