Any slip and fall incident can cause injuries, but fall from heights often lead to catastrophic medical issues—and even fatalities. It's more heartbreaking when these fall injuries were caused by negligence on behalf of a property owner or business—and therefore possibly preventable.
A slip and fall accident attorney can determine the parties responsible for your accident and seek compensation to aid in your recovery.
Common Causes of Falls from Heights
A fall from a height is classified as any drop from an elevation, whether it's two feet off the ground or multiple stories in the air. These accidents occur in various locations:
- Private homes
- Apartment complexes
- Restaurants or retail stores
- Malls
- Office buildings
While some falls from heights happen when a person isn't careful, many more are caused by failure to keep properties safe and maintained, or to post warning signs of hazards or pending repair. It's the responsibility of a property manager, a property owner, or a business to follow a duty of care for those who are lawfully on the property.
Common causes of falls from heights include:
- Stairs. Broken stairs and loose or missing handrails often result in devastating falls. These accidents are also caused by inadequate or no lighting, which makes it impossible for someone to see the potential dangers of using a staircase.
- Windows. Children are especially at risk of falling out windows left open or that are defective. These tragic accidents can occur at a friend’s or family member’s home when children aren't properly supervised, or when landlords or property owners fail to maintain or replace the windows or screens.
- Porches, decks, and balconies. These structures might collapse if not constructed according to building codes or not adequately maintained. People also fall off these platforms because of loose or missing railings. Once the cause of the incident is determined, a landlord, homeowner, contractor, or other entities could be liable for compensating victims.
- Ladders. People often fall from these when they're not properly supported or they're not the right height for the task. If ladder design or manufacturing defects caused the incident, a victim could have a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
Common Injuries Associated with Elevated Slip and Fall Accidents
The severity of fall from height injuries is typically much worse than single-level slip and falls. Some common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Broken bones and fractures
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Back and spinal injuries
- Partial or complete paralysis
- Death
Get the Compensation You Deserve
In California, a victim of a fall from a height is entitled to compensation for his injuries from the negligent parties that caused his accident. Financial awards in these cases often cover:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future lost wages
- Past and future pain and suffering
- Wrongful death damages
Did you or a loved one suffer a fall from a high place in San Diego or southern California? Attorney Mark Blane is an experienced slip and fall attorney who will thoroughly investigate the cause of your accident and fight to hold all responsible parties accountable. He handles these cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you won't owe any attorney fees until he settles your claim or wins at a jury trial.
To learn more about how he can assist you, call our San Diego office today to schedule your free case evaluation.
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