Slip and fall accidents often result in serious injuries and long legal disputes. However, most claims hinge on one thing: whether or not the property owner or occupier failed to address safety hazards to maintain a safe environment for visitors, employees, and/or residents.
Experienced Las Vegas slip-and-fall lawyers use several resources to prove liability or negligence in these specialized personal injury cases, including Nevada premises liability laws. However, most courts demand concrete proof before they award victims with compensation. Hence, slip resistance analysis and floor safety standards have become crucial aspects of premises liability cases and litigation.
In this post, we’ll explain the importance of both processes from a legal perspective and share how Nevada slip-and-fall lawyers use slip resistance analysis and floor standards to prove liability or negligence.
The Importance of Slip Resistance Analysis and Floor Safety Standards in Nevada
1. Establishing Negligence
Victims (plaintiffs) must prove that the property owner or occupier was responsible for their injuries and damages following a slip and fall accident on their premises. Slip resistance analysis can demonstrate whether the defendant (alleged responsible party) failed to maintain safe flooring conditions.
2. Expert Testimony
Many Nevada slip and fall attorneys procure the services of expert witnesses during cases, including accident reconstructionists specializing in slip and fall cases. These professionals can assess the floor’s slip resistance and provide their expert opinions in court, potentially affecting the case’s outcome with their findings.
3. Preventing Future Accidents
Many property owners hire experts following slip-and-fall lawsuits to address safety hazards and prevent future accidents and claims. Some even procure their services to prove they weren’t responsible for accidents and reject liability claims.
How to Analyze Slip Resistance and Floor Safety Standards
Below are common ways experts analyze slip resistance and floor safety standards in commercial facilities:
1. Surface Testing
Experts usually start by using specialized equipment to measure slip resistance and simulate the slipperiness of floors under dry and wet conditions.
2. Applicable Standards
Next, they use applicable standards like ANSI A137.1 for ceramic tile and ANSI/NFSI B101.3 for walkway safety. Using industry guidelines, they determine if the flooring materials, environment, and usage are safe for visitors.
3. Documentation
Many safety professionals serve as expert witnesses to conduct tests and provide expert testimony in court. They take photographs and measure the surfaces’ slipperiness using different tests to provide detailed documents of conditions and hazards influencing slips and falls.
How Las Vegas Slip and Fall Lawyers Use Slip Resistance Analysis and Floor Safety Standards to Prove Liability or Negligence
Las Vegas slip and fall lawyers use slip resistance analysis and floor safety standards for various reasons apart from getting expert witness testimonies to prove liability or negligence, including:
1. Establishing Negligence
The core aspect of every lawsuit or claim is proving negligence. Hence, slip and fall attorneys Las Vegas use slip analysis and floor safety standards to determine if the property owner or manager was aware of hazardous floor conditions but failed to address them proactively. By proving the defendant breached their duty of care to visitors, they can litigate slip-and-fall lawsuits seamlessly.
2. Comparative Analysis
Experienced Nevada slip and fall lawyers can use slip resistance test results from relevant safety standards and compare them with the defendant’s findings. With proactive due diligence, they can strengthen the victim’s case and prove the owner or manager failed to provide a safe environment for visitors.
3. Building Codes and Regulations
In many cases, standard evidence like surveillance footage, photographs, and medical bills may not be enough to prove liability to the responsible party. Therefore, many lawyers get creative and check the local building codes and regulations to see if the property complies with ANSI and other safety standards. Any violation could serve as additional evidence of negligence.
4. Maintenance Records
Lawyers can also review building maintenance records, especially in areas prone to slip and fall accidents, including toilets, stairways, parking lots, elevators, etc. Using their findings, they can build a compelling case, especially if the owner falls behind on routine maintenance, which could be a prime cause of accidents and injuries.
Contact a Nevada Slips and Fall Lawyer Right Away!
The Bourassa Law Group believes slip and fall accidents are among the most complex cases to prosecute. We recommend victims hire the best Nevada slip and fall lawyers serving Las Vegas, Summerlin, Henderson, and other cities. With a collective experience spanning three decades, you can rest assured we have the expertise and resources to get you the compensation you deserve.
We may not be able to undo the accident or speed up the recovery process, but we can help you cover the economic and non-economic damages that arise from the unfortunate incident. So, contact us at 800-870-8910 to discuss your case, and let us do what we do best – deliver justice.
1-800-870-8910