Washington, DC Slip & Fall Accidents: Outside & Outdoors
Injury Lawyers Serving DC, Maryland & Virginia for 45+ Years
If you’ve been injured on another’s property in a slip, trip, and fall accident, you might have the ability to seek compensation for your damages by holding the property owner liable. Though determining who’s at fault in anypremises liability case can be difficult, it can be even more challenging when those accidents occur outside. What’s more, slip and fall accidents which happen outdoors can create unique challenges if the lawn is owned by a public entity or the government.
Since being founded over 45 years ago, Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. has become a nationally recognized personal injury and civil trial law firm, and has recovered more than $500 million in compensation for our clients. Led by Board Certified Civil Trial Law Specialists and comprised of a team of award-winning attorneys and caring support staff, we have what it takes to guide victims through the personal injury claim process and toward the full and fair recoveries they deserve.
Discuss your potential slip, trip, and fall accident with an experienced lawyer. Call (202) 659-8600 or contact us onlineto request your FREE case review.
Fault & Liability in a Slip & Fall Case
Slip and fall accidents which take place outside can involve a number of varying circumstances, as well as different potentially liable parties. However, viable claims all generally involve landowners who fail to meet their duty of care to keep their properties in reasonably safe condition. Examples of slip, trip, and fall hazards which may give rise to personal injury claims include:
- Defective parking lots
- Icy and snowy surfaces
- Uneven pavement, asphalt, and cement walkways
- Unsafe sidewalks, curbs, and roads
- Open holes, excavations, or collapsing walkways
- Broken pieces of outdoor tiling, bricks, or rugs
- Insufficient lighting or lack of lighting in dangerous areas
- Debris, improperly place or obtruding objects, and other tripping hazards
In cases where victims who are injured on outdoor patios, in parking lots, and other privately owned areas outside, the businesses or individuals who own the property may be held liable. As civil claims require victims to prove fault and liability and meet their burden of proof, there will generally be the need to show how a property owner:
- Created some type of hazard on their property, and failed to address it; or
- Knew or should have known about a hazardous condition on their property, and failed to reasonably address it.
It’s not enough for victims to slip, trip, and fall on another’s property in order to prevail in a premises liability claim. There must be evidence and convincing arguments as to how a hazardous condition came about, whether the property owner knew or should have known about it, and how they failed to meet their legal duty to take reasonable steps in addressing it and keeping guests, customers, and others safe.
Defective Sidewalks, Public Land, and Government Liability
If a slip and fall accident occurs outside on sidewalks, roadways, and other public areas, there’s a good chance that land is publicly owned. In the District of Columbia, and many other jurisdictions, personal injury claims against public entities and the government are more challenging than those filed against private businesses or property owners, and are subject to different laws, legal standards involving duty and liability, and statutes of limitations.
Generally, the government and its public agencies have a duty to use ordinary care to maintain things like sidewalks and public areas used by pedestrians and the public. They’re not obligated to keep people safe, however, and because there are unique laws limiting their liability, the government is not responsible for all accidents that happen in public spaces which aren’t in pristine condition.
Although claims against the government are difficult, they can be effectively handled. In fact, our team at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. has successfully resolved a number of injury cases against public entities and local governments. We understand the unique issues involved, as well as how to prove government liability. For example, we’ve won cases involving:
- A successful settlement secured on behalf of a client injured after slipping on ice in a Metro parking lot (Prince George’s County).
- A $4.5 million verdict for a woman seriously injured in a pedestrian accident after being struck by an Alexandria Transit bus.
- A $2 million settlement against the District and its contractors over negligent care provided at government-run group home.
Proven DC Injury Lawyers Fighting for Full & Fair Compensation
If you or a loved one have recently suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident that occurred outside – either on private or public property – you can find more information about whether you might have a potential claim by speaking with an attorney from our team. Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. is a trusted personal injury law firm capable of handling complex and high stakes cases, and we’re prepared to discuss how we may be able to help you during a free consultation. Contact us today.
