Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
A slip and fall accident refers to an accident where a person suffers injuries due to slipping, tripping, or falling. The most common causes of slip and fall accidents include uneven flooring, broken stairs, spilled liquid, snow or ice, broken tiles, and cords and wires. Even a small pool of water can be enough to cause a slip and fall accident. Slip and fall accidents include all types of falls including stumbling and overextension.
The most common injuries in slip and fall accidents include head injuries, fractures, spinal cord injuries, cuts, bruises, soft tissue injuries, and leg injuries. However, any part of the body can get injured when a person falls.
Unfortunately, some slip and fall accidents can result in severe injuries. A serious injury can lead to major financial and emotional stress. If you were injured at someone’s property due to their fault, you have the right to seek compensation for your suffering.
Overview of Slip and Fall Laws in Waukesha County
Slip and fall cases in Waukesha County are governed by premises liability laws. Based on these laws, the property owner or occupant is responsible for providing reasonably safe conditions on their premises. If they are aware of any dangers on their property, they have the responsibility to fix it, and if they can’t fix it, they must warn others about the danger. This is known as the duty of care, and it applies to both private and public property owners.
The state of Wisconsin follows a modified comparative negligence system, where the compensation for the plaintiff is adjusted according to their share of the fault in the incident that led to the injuries. However, if the plaintiff’s fault is 51 percent or more, they are barred from recovering any compensation.
Victims of a slip and fall accident in Waukesha must initiate legal action within the statute of limitations, which is set at three years from the date of the accident. If legal action is not initiated within the period specified by the statute of limitations, the plaintiff may lose their right to recover compensation.
If the slip and fall accident happened on government-owned property, the victim is legally required to provide a notice to the government entity within a specified time frame. The statute of limitations for such cases typically has a shorter time frame.
There are various other laws that apply to slip and fall cases in Wisconsin. Our slip and fall accident lawyers in Waukesha, WI, at Gingras, Thomsen & Wachs, LLP, can guide you on the laws that apply to your case.
