Determining guilt in a trip and fall case can involve dealing with municipalities. Municipal liability laws provide a basis for identifying the liable party when a personal injury occurs. Victims of an accident benefit from the assistance of an experienced slip and fall lawyer as they navigate the complexities of these laws. Here is more information on municipal liability laws:
What Are Municipal Liability Laws?
Municipal liability laws refer to the negligence of a city, state, town, or county. These laws determine when local government can be held responsible for accidents or injuries that occur on public property. These laws apply to actions involving daily operations for maintaining public property. Municipalities are responsible for maintaining public infrastructure to promote the safety of roads, pathways, and buildings. Municipal liability laws take effect when a citizen is injured due to neglect to maintain public property. These laws cover slip, trip, and fall accidents on icy and untreated sidewalks, stairwells, and cracked, broken, or uneven pavements. Municipalities may be exempted due to governmental immunity that absolves them from injuries caused by non-governmental duties such as policy-making.
How These Laws Apply To Personal Injury Cases
Municipalities owe a duty of care to individuals using public resources like roads, parks, and buildings. Local governments must maintain the conditions of roads and sidewalks by repairing potholes or broken traffic signals. They are responsible for keeping public buildings compliant with safety regulations by installing handrails and addressing faulty electrical systems.
When a personal injury occurs, you have the right to demonstrate that the municipality had a responsibility to maintain the integrity of the property where the accident happened. You can use photographs and medical reports to prove the negligence of the municipality to take appropriate steps to maintain public safety. These negligent actions include failing to fix a sinkhole or mark an obstruction on a sidewalk. Slip and fall accidents may also occur if a cracked or uneven sidewalk causes you to lose your balance.
Conditions for Filing a Claim
You can provide an actual or constructive notice when making a claim. An actual notice will be issued when the municipality is informed directly of the dangerous condition through reports and complaints. A constructive notice will be made to address dangerous conditions that have been present for a long time. This notice helps demonstrate that the municipality knew of the conditions and ignored them. A statute of limitations provides a deadline to make the claim depending on the location of your accident. Missing this deadline may invalidate your claim against the municipality.
Steps to Take After an Accident
Seek medical attention after an injury from a slip and fall accident to treat immediate and underlying injuries. Ask for copies of your medical records after treatment, including any prescription drugs and future care plans, to use as evidence in your claim. This information will provide proof of injury and its impact on your life and health. The doctors and nurses who treated you will serve as credible witnesses when you make a liability claim.
Accidents causing mental health tolls can affect your ability to work, leading to loss of wages and financial distress. Broken bones, ligament tears, and fractures from injuries may also impact your ability to work by limiting your mobility. If you’re involved in an accident that causes severe or long-term mental or physical injuries, you could be eligible to receive compensation. Consult a slip and fall lawyer for help creating a compelling claim and understanding the necessary steps to take after an injury. Your legal team will help you identify the liable government agency and hold them responsible for the accident.
Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer
An experienced trip and fall lawyer will negotiate with municipal parties and their insurers on your behalf. They will fight to get fair compensation for injuries you sustained from a negligence-caused slip and fall accident. Contact a legal team today to learn more about your rights after a slip or trip and fall accident.