Slip and falls can lead to very serious losses. Fatal slip and fall accidents in Modesto are as legally challenging as they are tragic. If you have lost a loved one in a deadly fall that could have been prevented, you need skilled legal guidance.
No amount of compensation can undo the harm you and your family have suffered from the loss of a loved one, but bringing a solid wrongful death claim could help you on your journey toward healing. An experienced slip and fall attorney at Curtis Legal Group could explain your legal options.
How Do Fatal Slip and Fall Accidents Happen?
The impact generated by slipping and falling can be immense and lead to very serious injuries that are sometimes fatal. Slip and fall accidents are even more dangerous when they occur from heights, such as elevated structures or staircases.
It is important to note, however, that any fall in which the victim hits their head with significant force greatly increases the risk of death. This includes hitting one’s head on an unyielding obstacle in the course of slipping and falling.
Serious Slip and Fall Injuries
Serious falls often lead to significant trauma, and some injuries tend to show up more often than others. The kinds of serious injuries that are most closely associated with slip and fall accidents include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Injuries that lead to amputation
- Internal injuries, including organ damage and internal bleeding
- Complex bone fractures, which could lead to life-threatening complications
If severe enough, any one of these injuries could lead to death.
The legal guidance of a Modesto lawyer could be immensely beneficial if you lost a loved one because of a slip and fall accident.
Proving Liability
Bringing a strong wrongful death claim based on a slip and fall requires proving the property owner’s liability. Commercial property owners are required to take the reasonable precautions necessary to allow their guests safe passage. This means implementing the same level of care that other reasonable property owners would demonstrate under similar circumstances. Failing to live up to this safety standard could lead to legal liability for a fatal slip and fall incident in Modesto.
Wrongful Death Claims
If your loved one could have brought a slip and fall accident claim against the at-fault Modesto property owner if they had survived, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim.
Survivors of the Accident Victim
According to California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60, the first priority for filing a wrongful death claim belongs to the victim’s surviving spouse and children. If neither applies, any surviving grandchildren or minors who were dependent on the accident victim may file. From there, the state’s laws of inheritance are followed.
Compensation
In a wrongful death claim that is based on a slip and fall accident, you could seek compensation for economic and non-economic losses. This may include:
- Your loved one’s final medical expenses
- The cost of your loved one’s funeral and burial
- The financial support that your loved one would have provided to your household
- Your own mental anguish and loss of love, companionship, and consortium
- The pain and suffering your loved one endured before succumbing to their fatal injury
- The gifts, household services, and future inheritance that your loved one would have provided
Our lawyers have extensive experience with these types of cases and could help you pursue the total compensation you deserve for your loss.
Contact a Modesto Lawyer for Help With a Fatal Slip and Fall Claim
Fatal slip and fall accidents in Modesto are devastating to survivors. If you have lost a loved one because of a property owner’s breached duty of care, our compassionate attorneys at Curtis Legal Group could help you file a legal claim for compensation. Learn more by contacting us online or giving our firm a call today.
