Established Arizona Attorney Represents Victims of Slip and Fall Injuries

Committed law firm helps those hurt while on others’ property in the Flagstaff area

Arizona law imposes upon property owners and managers certain obligations to protect guests from unsafe conditions on their premises. If a business or individual fails to exercise the legally required duty of care and you are injured as a result, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. At the Law Office of Matthew J. Poirier PLLC, I employ a practical, professional approach to help clients seek full and fair compensation for their past and future medical bills, lost income, emotional distress and pain and suffering. I represent individuals in the Flagstaff area and throughout Arizona.

Common causes and injuries associated with slip and fall accidents           

According to the Centers for Disease Control, older adults suffer about 36 million falls each year resulting in about 3 million emergency room visits and more than 32,000 deaths. One out of every five falls causes a significant injury. However, slip and fall accidents affect everyone. These incidents account for the highest number of worksite injuries and fatalities annually. There is no denying that a sudden fall, especially onto a hard surface, can cause severe, lasting injury. Common causes of slip and falls include:

  • Wet floors
  • Uneven pavement
  • Potholes
  • Broken floor tiles
  • Debris
  • Dark passages and staircases
  • Missing handrails

Slip and fall accidents cause a wide range of injuries, including:

If you have suffered a slip and fall due to a hidden hazard, you should immediately contact a personal injury attorney.

Trusted Arizona adviser evaluates the strength of your injury claim

In order for a property owner to be found liable your accident, evidence must be shown to prove that you were legally on the property and that a dangerous condition on the premises caused your injury. In addition, generally at least one of the following must be true:

  • The property owner or an employee caused the dangerous condition on the premises.
  • The owner or an employee knew about the dangerous condition on the premises and did not take reasonable steps to remove or clearly identify the hazard.
  • The owner or an employee should have known about the dangerous condition on the premises as would be expected of a reasonable person.

A property owner or manager owe as a slightly higher standard of care to invitees, as opposed to licensees, who are permitted to be on premises, but were not invited by the defendant.  My firm will review the circumstances and advise you of the applicable legal standard.

Determining liability for a slip and fall

The question of whether a property owner is legally liable often hinges on whether their behavior was reasonable under the circumstances. A verdict might turn on whether a jury believes the defendant was conscientious about identifying potential hazards, vigilant about cleaning a mess or clear in its warning about a dangerous condition. Juries might want to know if businesses have protocols in place and if they actually adhered to those plans. As a plaintiff’s attorney, I present evidence that a property owner was less than responsible and that lax controls allowed the slip and fall accident to happen.  

Knowledgeable attorney builds persuasive premises liability cases

Strong cases are founded on strong evidence. I thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding your slip and fall incident. Key evidence might include photographs and physical evidence from the accident scene, witness testimony and expert reports detailing what went wrong. For the damages element of your case, a physician might be able to detail your medical condition and how it will affect you going forward. With their assistance, I can pursue the best settlement available. If your case goes to court, these witnesses are available to deliver clear, professional testimony so the jurors can understand the cause of the accident and the extent of your injuries.

By immediately consulting an attorney after your accident, you can help ensure a professional is looking out for your best interests right from the start. With significant delay, however, you could lose the ability to collect crucial evidence and might even give up your right to file a claim by missing the deadline set by Arizona law.

Contact an Arizona injury attorney for a free consultation about your slip and fall accident

If you were injured on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain. Call the Flagstaff office of the Law Office of Matthew J. Poirier PLLC at 928-222-2803 or contact me online to schedule your free consultation.