If you slip and fall on government property, the accident is subject to premises liability law. Because the accident happened on government property, the claim can be filed against the agency in charge or the city.
Public Property Slip and Fall Accident Attorney
If you slip and fall on government property such as at the post office, a monument or a public park, the government entity may be held responsible for your injuries. However, there are times when the government entity cannot be held liable. In a city adorned by multiple government properties, let’s look at this in further detail.
Roeser Law Firm – Slip and Fall Lawyers
In Washington, D.C., and Maryland, the Roeser Law Firm is known for its compassionate and aggressive care of its clients. They are committed to their clients and resolves their cases successfully with tenacity, legal acumen and diligence. Reach out to us at (202) 660-4070 for a free case review.
The Government Entity Must Be Negligent
Negligence is the cornerstone of a personal injury lawsuit. Without it, the lawsuit will be unable to proceed in the judicial system. That means that someone caused the accident to happen through their negligence. This can range from a spilled drink that was negligently not cleaned within a prescribed amount of time to a broken curb or a poorly designed building.
It can also mean that the entity did not maintain the entity in a manner that would prevent slips and falls. For instance, if a leaky pipe caused a section of the floor to be wet and someone slipped and fell because no warning signs were placed nor the water removed, the government workers would be negligent.
Another example would be a public park where ample lighting was missing, leading to a slip and fall. This would be a lack of maintenance or faulty design. Your slip and fall lawyer would investigate and discern how the accident occurred and who was responsible.
Premises Liability Law
If you slip and fall on government property, the accident is subject to premises liability law. Because the accident happened on government property, the claim can be filed against the agency in charge or the city. Since the government’s liability rests on a faulty design of the building or the negligence of an employee of the government entity, your attorney must be able to investigate the accident properly and establish fault.
How a Slip and Fall Attorney Investigates the Accident
At our law firm, we send our investigators to the site of the slip and fall accident. They investigate the area where the accident happened. Since it is usually cleared quickly, our investigators must backtrack. They look for cameras in the vicinity of the accident to see if it was recorded digitally. If so, they request a copy of the video to be used as evidence and introduced in court.
They find witnesses to the accident and interview them. The names might have been recorded by the victim or available in the accident report written at the scene. The investigators also review the government entity’s policies to see how they expect their employees to respond.
Additional Examples of a Hazard on a Government Property
Here are some other hazards that exist on government property:
- Exposed tree roots on a sidewalk or in a public park
- Uplift or a rise on a sidewalk
- Hazards in a construction area on the government property
- Spills in a government healthcare facility
- Clutter in a public university
- Mislayed object in a walkway of a government building
Time Limit to File a Claim
The first step is to file a claim with the Office of Risk Management. You have six months from the time of the injury to file the claim. Police reports, receipts for funds spent due to the accident, bills for medical services, photos of the accident scene or videos as well as an estimation of the damage and explanation of the negligent actions should accompany the paperwork. The government agency or city does not always accept the responsibility, and an experienced lawyer can change that. If the claim is denied, a personal injury lawsuit can be filed.
The Roeser Law Firm
The lawyers at the Roeser Law Firm are experienced in claims against the government and will be at your side from start to finish. There is no charge until you win your case, and you will know the extent of that charge when you retain us. Call the Roeser Law Firm at (202) 660-4070 for a free case review, or reach out to us online. Get started as soon as possible before evidence disappears.
