Category Archives: Slip and Fall Accidents

INJURIES AT SHOPPING MALLS

The Duties of Shopping Malls to Guests

Injuries at shopping malls. Owners of Shopping malls owe a responsibility or a duty to their guests to maintain their malls and keep the premises safe for all of their customers. This duty extends to all persons who may be at the mall. It does not matter if you buy anything from any of the retail outlets, you are still owed the duty. Shopping mall owners are required to keep entrances and exits clear from any unreasonable hazards and the must also repair any dangers that exists on their property. If the Shopping mall fails to keep their property safe, they might be liable for any injuries caused by their failure to maintain the property. There are numerous ways a shopping mall can breach this duty to maintain the premises in a safe condition. Some examples include failing to repair leaking roofs and allowing water on the tile floors to become a slip hazard, failing to repair faulty escalators that cause injury, failing to replace cracked or broken tile causing a trip injury etc.

What is a Shopping Mall?

Most people think of a “Shopping Mall” as a large indoor shopping center with large stores, small shops and a food court like the Galleria Mall, The Fashion Show Mall, The Meadows Mall or the Summerlin Mall here in Clark County. However, for purposes of this article and for civil liability for injuries, A shopping mall aka Mall is a general term for a large indoor or outdoor shopping center. Therefore, this article is applicable to shopping centers like Towne Square, The District and all shopping locations where multiple stores or shops are located in one area. The term “mall“ refers to a “pedestrian promenade with shops along the walkways.

Is the Mall or the Store liable for my Injury?

The location where you are injured in the mall will determine who is liable for your injuries. The mall owners are not responsible for each and every injury that happens inside the mall. Sometimes the independent store owners may be held responsible if the hazardous condition or cause of the injury occurred inside an independent store. If your injury occurs inside one of the shops in the mall, that store owner is the entity or person that will be liable for your damages most of the time. However, of course, nothing in law is ever quit that simple. For example, if it was a leaking roof that caused a wet surface that caused you to fall inside a store, it can be the mall owners who are liable for creating the hazardous condition and the store responsibility for failing to clean up the area or warn customers of the hazard.

As a general matter, the mall owners are responsible for maintaining common areas including the entrances and exits, common walking areas in the mall, and parking lots. If your injury occurs in one of those areas, the mall owner is most likely responsible for the injuries you sustain. If you are inside a store when you sustain injury, it may be only the store owner who is liable. It is important to point out here the importance of collecting the proper evidence at the scene of the accident at the time it happens to determine who is liable for your injury. If you are injured in a shopping mall, take photographs of the hazard that caused your injury, and be sure to take the following steps while you are at the scene:

Take Photographs of the entire scene near and around where the injury occurred;
Request any and all surveillance footage from the manager, and if you give a written statement, be sure to put this request in that statement;
Obtain all eyewitness contact information yourself, do not rely on the store to obtain this information;
Make a report to the manager at the scene and request a copy of the accident report while you are at the scene.

In addition to the information you collect at the scene, the lease signed buy a store owner might also determine what party is responsible for your injuries. An example of this is a lease may establish which party is responsible for maintaining the entrance to the store. Collecting evidence at the scene is of critical importance.

Liability of the Mall Owner to Victims of Crime on the Premise

It is a sad reality that crime happens in all places, including shopping malls. In order for a mall owner to be civilly liable for injuries you sustain as the result of a violent crime happening to you at the mall, it will be necessary to prove that the mall owner failed to “exercise reasonable care or take reasonable precautions to protect potential victims of crime.” An example of this is having adequate security on the premises during all open business hours to deter such violent acts. However, “reasonable precautions” does not mean that a shopping mall owner must absolutely prevent any violent crime from occurring on the property. It simply means that they must take reasonable precautions.

If you are the victim of a violent crime at a shopping mall, it will be necessary to prove that the crime committed against you was both “foreseeable and that the owner of the mall did not take reasonable precautions to protect customers from the foreseeable threat.” If you are the victim of a violent crime at a shopping mall, call our office at TheOneLawyer.com as soon as possible for a free consultation to discuss your injuries and the possible liability for your personal injuries sustained at the shopping mall.

Making a Claim Against a Shopping Mall

If you have been injured at a shopping mall, call us at TheOneLawyer.com for a free consultation to discuss the personal injuries you sustained at the shopping mall. An attorney can gather and evaluate evidence. In addition, an attorney will be able to file a complaint and be able to request documents, subpoena maintenance records, interview witnesses, and conduct depositions to preserve witness testimony

At the law offices of TheOneLawyer.com, we will also locate possible claims against other parties, depending on the nature of the injury. Examples of third-party liability include the manufacturer of a faulty escalator, elevator, or the security company hired to provide security. In addition, there may be ADA issues for handicap guests, or liability by a local government agency for failure to thoroughly inspect the premises or failing to assure that the building was up to code.

Getting a Lawyer to Fight for You

You may look for a personal injury attorney who has the experience handling claims against shopping malls for severe injuries. There are lawyers who fight against large commercial venues like shopping malls, retails stores, hotels and all commercial business who may negligently cause injuries to their guests.

WHY I AM GRATEFULL 2022: On this Sunday morning I will be volunteering at Young Men’s Service League (YMSL) with my son to discuss career options and my topic, of course, law school and becoming an attorney. I am great full for the chance to volunteer in our community with my son and answer the boys’ questions about law school and the practice of law. This is a great organization I will have the privilege of volunteering in with my three sons for a decade. It is a great community organization to provide much needed service to many local charities. It is important for all of us to be the change we want to see in the world by making gratitude a part of each day. If we all practice gratitude more regularly, the world will be a kinder place. Each of my blogs will contain something I am grateful for and reviewed in our year end blog. I hope that you will also have a lengthy list by the end of 2022. I hope that by reflecting on gratitude, we will find the positive of everyday, even the days that are stressful.

We fight hard with this companies for our clients every day and we are grateful you have chosen TheOneLawyer.com to fight your you and your family after a car accident and help you recover for the injuries sustained in that car accident. At TheOneLawyer.com, we are here to serve our community and provide legal services in the Henderson and Las Vegas area and we are grateful for this opportunity. We are a boutique law firm providing experienced and personal representation to injured clients. At the Law Offices of Laura Payne, Esq. TheOneLawyer.com we provide professional and personal service to each and every one of our clients on various legal matters and have over 15 years of experience in reviewing insurance policies and in Nevada insurance law. If you have a question regarding any type of personal injury or paying your medical bills from an accident, please do not hesitate to call the offices of TheOneLawyer.com and speak directly to attorney Laura Marie Payne, Esq. a Henderson Injury Attorney for over 15 years. Laura is recognized as one of Nevada’s Top 100 Lawyers. She has the experience and knowledge to obtain the maximum settlement you deserve. Please call our office if you or a loved one is injured. We can make sure that you receive the care you need and deserve and advise on how to preserve evidence.

At our office, we are experienced in helping injured victims get the compensation to which they are entitled. Insurance companies never have the best interest of the injured person at the top of their priorities. They want to pay as little on every claim as possible. Having worked for an insurance company as an attorney for 9 years before opening my boutique law firm specializing in helping injured people, I have reviewed thousands of auto accident claims and policy provisions.

At the Henderson and Las Vegas Accident injury law offices of TheOneLawyer.com, Laura Payne, Esq. and her staff are here to help you and your family in the event that accidents and tragedies occur. For any of your legal needs, do not hesitate to contact our Henderson and Las Vegas Accident injury offices. TheOneLawyer.com is a boutique, family-owned law firm that specializes in helping injured people and the community of Las Vegas and Henderson Nevada with legal issues involving auto accidents, wrongful deaths, slip and falls, truck accidents, injuries to children, bicycle accidents, dog bites, product liability claims, and all types of injury claims. Please do not hesitate to call us anytime you have a legal question or you or a loved one has sustained an injury at 702-450-4868 and text 24/7 at 702-600-0032.

CLAIMS AGAINST HOME DEPOT FOR INJURIES

Home Depot is a large chain home improvement store with over 2,000 stores nationwide and over 20 stores in Nevada. Home Depot sells home improvement and construction materials for residential customers and commercial builders. I cannot imagine that you have not been to a Home Depot store at some point in your life to pick up a tool, light switch cover, paint or any of the literally thousands of products available to make our homes and lives more comfortable and beautiful. When I was younger, I would wander the mall after work in search of the perfect weekend outfit, sipping a giant overpriced lemonade. Now, I wander the aisles of Home Depot endlessly sipping an overpriced coffee searching for the perfect shelves to organize my pantry LOL. It is a great store when it comes to price and selection for home improvement. The typical Home Depot store is usually bustling with activity, especially as an “essential business” during the pandemic. Thus, it comes as no surprise that Home Depot faces a sizable number of lawsuits by customers injured because of the negligence of employees or the sale of defective products that cause injury. All retail businesses have an obligation to maintain their premises in a “reasonably safe condition and have a duty to warn consumers of any potential dangers or hazards.” This is why you see little yellow or orange cones around a wet or broken area in a store on occasion, to warn shoppers.

Because slip and fall accidents happen at Home Depot, like most retailers, they are frequently the defendant in premises liability lawsuits. Home Depot is a great company that takes great care in protecting its guests. However, like in most large retail companies, there are a lot of employees working every day and mistakes happen.

Having worked for a large insurance company for many years, and having handled many claims against large retailers, it is my experience that while large companies will rightfully fight against frivolous claims, they will also pay a reasonable value on legitimate claims that are properly brought against them when the evidence establishes their liability. That is why it is critical to take the proper steps at the scene to preserve your claim and call us at TheOnewlawyer.com for your personal injury claim against Home Depot.

Types of Claims Against Home Depot

There are many distinct types of personal injuries that result for an accident on the premises of Home Depot or from a product sold. The most common injury accident that we have seen result from slip and fall accidents on the premises, claims involving excessive force from Home Depot security, and Defective products such as Defective Husky/Tri-Cam ladders, One World Technologies/Ryobi Technologies/Ridgid table saws and other defective products.

Past Successful Injury Claims Against Home Depot

The following are synopses of some personal injury settlements and jury verdicts against Home Depot nationwide. These are only examples of real cases. Every claim is unique, and the facts need to be established and investigated immediately following the injury.

Jury Verdict in Tennessee 2012 for $809,241; In this case, Home Depot driver veered across the center line on the road and struck the Plaintiff head-on. Plaintiffs sustained a serious neck injury that required surgery. Plaintiff incurs $ 36,241 in medical bills. Home Depot’s settlement offer pretrial was $200,000.
Jury Verdict in New Jersey 2011 for $975,000 ; 44-year-old in New Jersey was in Home Depot parking lot and was waiting near his vehicle for a propane tank delivery. Unfortunately, wind dislodged a stocked cart causing it to roll down a hill and strike the Plaintiff. The Plaintiff sustained a back injury including a partial vertebral fracture requiring surgery. According to Bob Bratt he filed suit against Home Depot and the owner of the cart, claiming that the owner of the cart should have secured it safely, and that Home Depot was negligent by allowing carts to parked. The jury found Home Depot 80% responsible and the cart owner of the cart 20% responsible.
Settlement in Boston, Massachusetts for $425,000; 2012: Plaintiff was a welder going down a ladder while on a jobsite. As he descended the ladder, one of the ladder’s top rungs detached from the side rails causing him to fall. The plaintiff sustained a rotator cuff shoulder injury that required two surgeries. Plaintiff filed suit against the ladder’s manufacturer, Tricam, and Home Depot where the ladder was purchased.
Jury Verdict in Oregon. 2017: $4,527,799: Plaintiff filed a lawsuit against ladder manufacturer Tricam and Home Depot for injuries resulting from a fall due to a defective ladder. The jury found Tricam/Home Depot 70% responsible for the harm that was caused and 30% was attributed to the Plaintiff. The verdict was later reduced by the trial judge to $1.9 million.
Settlement in California 2017: $101,000. A female child sustained permanent scarring after a display cabinet fell down on top of her when she opened the cabinet doors.
Jury Verdict in New Jersey 2011: $159,125.: This case involved a 57-year-old electrical contractor who was walking near the entrance of a Home Depot store and fell on a patch of ice. He sustained a torn quadricep which required surgery. Home Depot claimed the area of the fall was inspected two hours before plaintiff’s fall. Home Depot argued that they did not have sufficient notice of the condition. The jury did not agree with Home Depot.

Jury Verdict: $624,472.45 California 2013 Plaintiff was a 27-year-old correctional officer who sustained injury at a California Home Depo when a palm tree for sale fell and struck her left shoulder. Plaintiff filed suit against Home Depot claiming failure to properly maintain the tree resulting in a dangerous condition. Home Depot raised the defense the tree only grazed Plaintiff, and that she did not fall to the ground.

Identity Theft Class Action Lawsuit

In addition to person injury lawsuits, a class action lawsuit has been filed against Home Depot following a serious data breach that exposed the credit card information for millions of customers. This case has been filed in federal court in Illinois and alleges that Home Depot failed to protect its customers’ personal data.

Who Can Sue Home Depot?

If you are a Home Depot shopper who has been injured in a Home Depot, you can sue Home Depot for your injuries. Employees of Home Depot can sue the company for such things as sexual harassment. However, employees of Home Depot injured on the job, are usually limited to a workers’ compensation claim, but there can be exceptions.

Getting a Lawyer to Fight Home Depot

TheOneLawyer.com is handling person injury cases against Home Depot. At TheOneLawyer.com we take serious injury and wrongful death cases retail businesses like Home Depot. If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of the negligence of Home Depot or by a defective product purchased at Home Depot, call us today at 702-450-4868 to speak directly to Laura Payne, Esq. for a free consultation.

WHY I AM GRATEFULL 2022: Today I found out a colleague I have worked with for many years is leaving for an amazing opportunity. I am sad and stressed about their departure, but I am going to choose to be grateful for the years I have gotten to work with him and the journey to find a replacement who will bring innovative ideas to our firm. It is important for all of us to be the change we want to see in the world by making gratitude a part of each day. Accepting change, especially the change we do not want, with a positive outlook is part of being grateful. If we all practice gratitude more regularly, the world will be a kinder place. Each of my blogs will contain something I am grateful for and reviewed in our year end blog. I hope that you will also have a lengthy list by the end of 2022. I hope that by reflecting on gratitude, we will find the positive of everyday, even the days that are stressful.

We fight hard for our clients every day and we are grateful you have chosen TheOneLawyer.com to fight for you and your family after a car accident and help you recover for the injuries sustained in that car accident. At TheOneLawyer.com, we are here to serve our community and provide legal services in the Henderson and Las Vegas area and we are grateful for this opportunity. We are a boutique law firm providing experienced and personal representation to injured clients. At the Law Offices of Laura Payne, Esq. TheOneLawyer.com we provide professional and personal service to each and every one of our clients on various legal matters and have over 15 years of experience in reviewing insurance policies and in Nevada insurance law. If you have a question regarding any type of personal injury or paying your medical bills from an accident, please do not hesitate to call the offices of TheOneLawyer.com and speak directly to attorney Laura Marie Payne, Esq. a Henderson Injury Attorney for over 15 years. Laura is recognized as one of Nevada’s Top 100 Lawyers. She has the experience and knowledge to obtain the maximum settlement you deserve. Please call our office if you or a loved one is injured. We can make sure that you receive the care you need and deserve and advise on how to preserve evidence.

INJURIES AT WALMART

If you or a loved one has been injured at a Walmart store, whether at the Supercenters or the grocery stores, call or text our experienced team at TheOneLawyer.com for your personal injury claim against Walmart. This blog is about personal injury lawsuits against Walmart stores. I will examine past settlement compensation payouts in Walmart personal injury cases and the process you will go through when you have been injured at a Walmart store.

Walmart was the world’s largest company with retail revenues reaching 523.96 billion U.S. in 2019. ( https://www.statista.com/statistics/266595/leading-retailers-worldwide-based-on-revenue/) As the largest non-governmental employer, It is not surprising that it is the most frequently sued private personal injury claim defendant in the United States. Walmart gets sued approximately 20 times a day, which is nearly 5,000 lawsuits filed every year against Walmart. Although many of these are suits brought by employees for various employment discrimination and wage and hour claims, many are also for personal injuries sustained by customers.

CAN I SUE WALMART IF I AM INJURED AT A STORE OR BY A WORKING DRIVER

The answer to this question is yes but you need to be prepared and collect the correct evidence. It is best to obtain a lawyer from the very beginning. Walmart will not be on your side and will not make extensive efforts to preserve all evidence. Your best path is to hire the best lawyer that you can. Walmart is a large company and there are some aspects about suing Walmart and litigating with this company in court that are different from dealing with other defendants. It has been my experience that Walmart handles injury claims in an aggressive manner. Let’s face it, almost all of us have shopped at a Walmart store. Just the sheer numbers of customers and number of stores makes it clear that accidents will happened and in larger numbers compared to most other retailers.

TheOneLawyer.com has the experienced and compassionate attorneys you need to help you get the treatment you need for your personal injuries and fight the giant of Walmart for the compensation you deserve. Our law firm handles severe injury and wrongful death personal injury cases against Walmart and has been successful in obtaining substantial compensation for our client. Like many companies, Walmart often demands that such settlements be confidential and therefore cannot be shared. However, a jury verdict is a public record, and his article is about personal injury aka tort claims against Walmart the dollar value of those claims. The most common claims are slip and fall or other premises liability cases, truck accidents, falling objects, negligent security, or pharmacy mistake cases.

The following are summaries of some winning jury verdicts. Please note that as mentioned, these do not include settlements as any large settlement against Walmart will have a strict confidentiality clause include with the settlement.

West Virginia February 2019: $16,900,000 Verdict: Plaintiff/ victim, a 52-year-old mother and grandmother who was visiting her local Walmart with her granddaughter in the shopping cart. Unrelated to them, the store security had detained a shoplifter near the rear of the store. The shoplifter then attempted to evade security and while he was fleeing ran the Plaintiff/ victim over on his way out knocking her over and the shopping cart with her granddaughter. The cart fell on top of her, and she suffered major abdominal injuries. Her injuries were so severe that she underwent numerous surgeries, over 20 hospitalizations, and was left permanently dependent on a feeding tube. Plaintiff/ victim hired a personal injury lawyer who filed suit against Walmart, claiming that its security staff was negligent in attempting to detain the shoplifter who had run from them on previous occasions. Walmart denied any wrongdoing and tried to place the blame on the shoplifter.

Ohio July 2019: $81,500 Verdict: A 51-year-old woman was shopping when a pallet jack/pallet being pushed down the same aisle by a Walmart employee struck her cart. This caused her to fall backward as she was pushing a shopping cart. The Plaintiff/Victim alleged she suffered disc herniations with chronic radiculopathy; a partially torn rotator cuff; and other soft tissue injuries. Walmart admitted liability but disputed the alleged injuries were a result of the fall. A jury awarded the Plaintiff/ victim $81,500 in damages.

Florida January 2020: $572,988 Verdict: The Plaintiff/ victim slipped and fell on an unknown substance in a Walmart grocery aisle in Florida and she sustained permanent injuries. The Plaintiff/ victim claimed the company failed to maintain safe conditions. Walmart denied liability and claimed that the woman’s own negligence caused her injuries. The jury found the store 100 percent liable and awarded the woman a $572,988 in damages.

Texas March 2013: $199,112 Verdict: A 42-year-old clerical worker slipped and fell while walking in the meat department of her local Walmart in El Paso. She was taken from the store by ambulance to an emergency room where she was treated for disc herniations and bulges as well as a sprained right ankle, an annular tear, and a torn ligament in her right knee. Her Walmart lawsuit claimed the employees had washed the concrete floor with a mechanical scrubber that had been excessively filled with soap and used an incorrect mop. Plaintiff/ victim also claimed that Walmart failed to warn customers by placing wet floor signs in the area. Walmart denied liability, claiming the floor had fully dried at the time the Plaintiff/ victim slipped and fell and sustained personal injuries at Walmart. The lawyers for Walmart also argued the Plaintiff/ victim’s disc injuries were pre-existing conditions and did not happen as the result of her fall. A jury found Walmart liable for Plaintiff/ victim’s injuries and awarded $199,112 in damages.

Colorado June 2019: $583,040 Verdict: Plaintiff/ victim’s was a man on crutches who requested an electric cart. As he sat in the cart, the back support of the cart collapsed, and he fall backward. The plaintiff/ victim’s suffered soft-tissue spinal injuries. He claimed that Walmart should have known of the defective carts and was negligent for providing the defective cart for customers. Again, Walmart denied responsibility and argued that the man’s injury was pre-existing before he had the accident at Walmart. The jury found Walmart 75 percent liable and the man 25 percent responsible and they awarded $583,040 in damages.

Washington June 2019: $325,000 Settlement: This case is an exception to the general rule that settlements against Walmart do not get reported. In a Washington injury accident case, a 70-year-old male Plaintiff/ victim slipped and fell on water leaking from a mini-refrigerator at his local Walmart. As a result of the slip and fall, he sustained a broken leg and ankle fractures that required several surgeries. The Plaintiff/ victim alleged that the mini refrigerator had been leaking for several hours and that Walmart failed to clean up the water. The claim was settled for $325,000. It is our experience that when damages are clear and not exaggerated like in this case, Walmart is more likely to settle the case

These are only a few the many jury verdicts render against Walmart all over the country. At TheOneLawyer.com, we have the experience in fighting large companies to recover damages for injuries sustained by our clients.

The Walmart Claim Handling

Walmart fights hard in the investigation of injury claims. However, if liability can be proven for a severe injury, Walmart will pay for their mistake and settle the claim. If you are injured in a Walmart store, hire an attorney immediately. Take Photographs of the hazard that your injury, be sure to take the following steps while you are at the scene:

Take Photographs of the entire scene near and around where the injury occurred;
Request any and all surveillance footage from the manager, and if you give a written statement, be sure to put this request in that statement;
Obtain all eyewitness contact information yourself, do not rely on the store to obtain this information;
Request a copy of the accident report while you are at the scene.

Getting a Lawyer to Fight for You

At TheOneLawyer.com, we handle claims against Walmart for severe injury and wrongful death personal injury claims. At TheOneLawyer.com we are lawyers who fight against Walmart for the personal injuries of our clients sustained at Walmart stores. If you have been injured or a loved one has been injured at Walmart, call us for a free consultation.

WHY I AM GRATEFULL 2022: I am grateful for my amazing staff and colleagues at TheOneLawyer.com who make my job easier and provide amazing service to our clients every day of the year. It is important for all of us to be the change we want to see in the world by making gratitude a part of each day. If we all practice gratitude more regularly, the world will be a kinder place. Each of my blogs will contain something I am grateful for and reviewed in our year end blog. I hope that you will also have a lengthy list by the end of 2022. I hope that by reflecting on gratitude, we will find the positive of everyday, even the days that are stressful.

At the Henderson and Las Vegas Accident injury law offices of TheOneLaweyer.com, Laura Payne, Esq. and her staff are here to help you and your family in the event that accidents and tragedies occur. For any of your legal needs, do not hesitate to contact our Henderson and Las Vegas Accident injury offices. TheOneLawyer.com is a boutique, family-owned law firm that specializes in helping injured people and the community of Las Vegas and Henderson Nevada with legal issues involving auto accidents, wrongful deaths, slip and falls, truck accidents, injuries to children, bicycle accidents, dog bites, product liability claims, and all types of injury claims. Please do not hesitate to call us anytime you have a legal question or you or a loved one has sustained an injury at 702-450-4868 and text 24/7 at 702-600-0032.

CLAIMS FOR INJURY AGAINST A LARGE COMPANY

All big retailers have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of their premises for their customers and vendors. However, employees and supervisors are not always as diligent as they should be in maintaining safe stores. When the premises are not kept in a safe condition, customer injuries that could have been prevented can happen, and these include injuries from slip and falls, falling objects, negligent collisions with customers and store equipment, and other accident injuries. If you believe you have been injured in a store or other retail settings, you may want to hire a personal injury lawyer to handle your personal injury claim against a large retailer today. Do not go it alone. Large retailers are sophisticated in overseeing these claims and we are too. We have done battle with large retailers and won for our clients many times over the past two decades. Let the experience of TheOneLawyer.com recover the most money possible for your personal injury claims against a large retailer. At the scene, call us and follow the following steps to preserve your claim:

Report the Accident To Management at the Store

Report the accident to a manager or employee immediately. Locate a store employee and describe what happened in detail. It would be helpful to make a voice recording at the scene for your attorney describing what happened in as much detail as possible. Be specific regarding the facts when telling the manager or employee what happened. If the employee prepares an accident report, request a copy for your own records. Be sure to ask the manager if there is an in-store or parking lot surveillance camera that might have recorded your accident and demand that the footage be preserved. If possible, video yourself making this request to the store employee or manager. Try to get an email address for store claims at the scene. If you are able to obtain one, go home and send an email, and copy yourself, demanding they “preserve all evidence, including all video evidence” before the security system deletes the footage. Many retailers automatically tape over old footage every 24 hours, so do this immediately. It is best to call us at TheOneLawyer.com 702-450-4868 to retain our experience to handle your claim immediately for the personal injuries you sustained in an accident at a large retail location.

Collect Information By Taking Photos and the Names and Phone Numbers of Witnesses

While you are still at the store, restaurant or other commercial location, it is important for you to collect evidence that will be critical to preserve your personal injury claim. It is important to do this while you are still at the scene before an employee has the chance to clean up or remove the hazard that caused your injury. Do your best to collect the following evidence before leaving the scene of the accident:

Take Photographs of the hazard that your injury;
Take Photographs of the entire scene near and around where the injury occurred;
Request any and all surveillance footage from the manager, and if you give a written statement, be sure to put this request in that statement;
Obtain all eyewitness contact information yourself, do not rely on the store to obtain this information;
Request a copy of the accident report while you are at the scene.

It is also important for you to keep the clothes and shoes you were wearing at the time of your accident. These items may be critical evidence to defend the store’s causation as a later time and may contain direct evidence, such as residue from a recently waxed floor. If you are too injured to collect evidence yourself, ask your companion to do these things. At the very least, be sure to use your phone and snap dozens of photos of the scene, the hazard, the employees, and the witnesses.

SEEK MEDICAL CARE as Soon as Possible

Take photos of any cuts, bruises or swelling that you sustained and seek medical care immediately. If you have severe pain or a severe injury, advise the store to request an ambulance to pick you up from the scene. If you leave the store on your own, go to a doctor or hospital as soon as possible to obtain treatment for the personal injuries that you sustained in your accident at a commercial retailer like Walmart, Target, Costco, Home Depot, Amusement park or any other commercial location. It is important to know that you may have injuries with delayed symptoms, such as a muscle tear or a head injury. It is important to see a doctor without delay and report all symptoms and injuries, even if you believe they are not significant at the time such as anxiety, confusion, soreness, etc.

Make a Note In your Phone Regarding the Facts

In your phone, make a “note” that starts “to my Attorney” and list the details you recall at that time when it is fresh in your memory. If you start this note for your attorney at TheOneLawyer.com and call us immediately, this statement will likely be considered a privileged statement to your counsel. In your note, describe the incident in detail while the memory of it is still fresh in your mind. Include the exact date and time that your fall happened, the location of the business, the hazard that caused your injury, the names and phones numbers of anyone (including witnesses and employees) you spoke to about the accident, and the pain you are having since the accident.

Consult With an Attorney with Experience

Large Retailers will fight to provide the lowest financial recovery possible for an accident injury. Do fight them on your own. Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to handle your commercial personal injury claim against a large corporation. Hiring an employment law attorney gives you the power and knowledge needed to procure a settlement or go to trial, if necessary, against a large company. A lawyer can manage every phase of your personal injury claim against a large company and allow you to focus on recovery.

WHY I AM GRATEFULL 2022: I am grateful for the crisp air and sunshine on this first beautiful workday of 2022. It is important for all of us to be the change we want to see in the world by making gratitude a part of each day. If we all practice gratitude more regularly, the world will be a kinder place. Each of my blogs will contain something I am grateful for and reviewed in our year end blog. I hope that you will also have a lengthy list by the end of 2022. I hope that by reflecting on gratitude, we will find the positive of everyday, even the days that are stressful.

Top 5 Things to Consider When Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney

Experience – LAURA PAYNE HUNT’S EXPERIENCE and insight is the key difference in knowing how to settle, when to settle and for how much. If you don’t know what to do next, call The Law Office of Laura Payne Hunt and let our personal injury attorney help you get the Medical Treatment and Legal Advice you need and deserve.

Accessibility – As a small practice with a consistent staff we are able to treat our clients like friends and family and be there to hear their concerns. My secretary, Peggy has been with me for many years and she is extraordinarily skilled and knowledgeable in the area of personal injury law. At the Costa Ivone, LLC offices of Laura Payne Hunt, we take great pride in providing a service that is fading in the world of big law firm‘s big advertising and nationwide organizations. If you are looking for a personal injury lawyer with experience, knowledge, personal service and compassionate representation, call our office today.

Knowledge of the Law — INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE NEVER ON YOUR SIDE! This personal injury lawyer knows this firsthand because he spent years working as defense counsel for one of the leading insurance companies in the nation. Laura knows what it takes to win. She uses the insight, knowledge and expertise she acquired while helping THEM save millions to now help YOU recover the maximum personal injury compensation you deserve. Remember this, the only way of getting compensation is by working with the best personal injury attorneys.

Compassionate –according to a personal injury attorney some insurance companies are cold and corporatized and it is important to have someone who listens to you and understands the pain, inconvenience and emotional distress that you are going through. I take great pride in being available to my clients to listen to what they need and to find specific medical providers that are best for their location, as well as the injuries they have sustained. It is important that you receive the proper care and it is equally important that your property damage is addressed. Many law firms do not assist you with your property damage. However we care about our clients and we see the case through from start to finish. Every case we take will be ready for trial if necessary. Fortunately for clients, only about two percent of cases go to trial but we handle every case as if it is one of those two percent and insurance companies know that. If you’re living in New York, you can view more to find the best injury lawyers in the bronx.

Community Connections –As a lifelong resident of Nevada, professional connections I have built are of great benefit to the clients we represent. Having grown up in the state of Nevada and the city of Henderson primarily, I have made many friends and have valuable professional connections that help my clients to get the proper medical care that they need as well as to have their vehicle repaired properly with the proper warranties. It takes a village sometimes to handle these matters. Clients need medical care, vehicle repairs, and rental cars. Having practiced as a personal injury attorney in this city for my entire professional career and having worked for the insurance companies, I have maintain strong professional connections that are of great benefit to the clients we represent. I have been a long time sponsor of Paseo Verde Little League teams and I enjoy being active in our community.

ABOUT LAURA

I knew I wanted to be a personal injury lawyer from the time I was seven years old. I grew up in Las Vegas and attended Tomiyasu Elementary School and Valley High School. I went to junior high school at Cannon Junior High School and was a product of 6 Grade Center being bused to a different part of town. Henderson is my home and it has been since I was five years old. I take a great deal of pride in what I do and being part of the community.

I went to UNLV undergrad and obtained a degree in Communications with an emphasis is print Journalism. While attending UNLV I was a writer for the school paper for the entertainment section. I was also an active Disc Jockey at the school radio station KUNV, playing my alternative favorite alternative beats. To pick up extra cash, I was also a Disc Jockey at the AM radio station where we played a variety of cultural music. Fortunately, my amateur guitar playing skills and love of Diet Coke helped keep me awake during those overnight AM radio jobs.

I went to Oklahoma City University for law school. I graduated from law school Cum Laude. While in law school, I was a member of the legal honor Society a Phi Kappa Phi as well as a participant in the moot court team. Upon graduating from law school, I took the Nevada bar exam successfully followed by the California bar successfully. I am also admitted to practice law in the state of Texas.

I returned to Las Vegas to start my legal career and clerked for a respected District Court judge. I went on to work for a law firm that handled cases for the insurance companies for a couple of years before I became the managing attorney for a major insurance company’s in-house legal office.

During my time working as an attorney for the insurance company, I learned the ins and outs of this business first hand. I trained insurance adjusters on how to deal with attorneys and had daily interactions with claims adjusters and claims files. I observed the nature and approach of insurance companies to accident claims and the victims involved. This experience is invaluable in representing injured people.

I am very passionate about what I do and I take great pride in providing top legal representation for injured people. I never had a desire to be on every billboard in town and be an attorney that brings in 100 files a month. To do that you need a lot of lawyers churning these files out to pay the massive overhead of advertising and large buildings. Personal care and attention to clients’ needs can easily be lost in that type of environment. I prefer to focus on the people who are my clients. I know each of my client’s case personally and I meet with every client personally. When you call my office, I will know your first name, I will know what your case is about. I will know what is going on. That is not the case with many law firms that have a high turnover rate because of low pay and often inexperienced attorneys.

The benefit of retaining a small law firm to handle your case is that you will receive personal service and you will have a relationship with your personal injury attorney. I kind of analogize this to the difference between going to a large medical center where you see someone different every time who hasn’t looked at your file and doesn’t know your name, to going to your family doctor who knows who you are remembers your conditions. The person who is there for you to talk to about your needs. It is a choice that an injured person should make from the start of their search for a personal injury law firm. Whether a large firm or a small firm is the right choice for you will be very important for your mental well-being during your case. Dealing with a large firm with constant turn over can be frustrating. THE LAW OFFICE OF LAURA PAYNE HUNT is a boutique law firm providing you with personal and compassionate representation with one goal in mind, the best care and recovery for each of our clients.

With over 18 years of experience helping injured people and working for the insurance companies I have a vast amount of knowledge and insight into exactly what insurance companies are looking at when reviewing your claim. Having been a member of this community for so many years, I know many good physicians and practices that provide top medical care for injured people. Connections in the community are vital in helping clients obtain the medical care they need for their specific injuries.

AS A SHORT TRIAL JUDGE and frequent Arbitrator, my skill is just as effective in the courtroom as it is in the conference room. I will passionately and aggressively defend your rights and recovery whether your case settles or goes to trial.

If you or a loved one is ever in any type of accident and have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our offices today. At my office, we are experienced in helping injured victims get the compensation they are entitled to. Insurance companies never have the best interest of the injured person at the top of their priorities. They want to pay as little on every claim as possible. Having worked for an insurance company as an attorney for 9 years before opening my boutique law firm specializing in helping injured people, I reviewed thousands of auto accident claims and policy provisions.

423HURT injury attorneys are here to help you and your family in the event that accidents and tragedies occur. For any of your legal needs, do not hesitate to contact our offices. The Law Offices of Laura Payne Hunt is a boutique, family owned law firm in Henderson that specializes in helping injured people and the community with legal issues involving auto accidents, wrongful deaths, slip and falls, truck accidents, injuries to children, bicycle accidents, dog bites, and all types of injury claims. Please do not hesitate to call us anytime you have a legal question or you or a loved one has sustained an injury at 702-450-(HUNT) 4868 and text 24/7 at 702-600-0032.

Is Saying I’m Sorry an Admission of Guilt?

Imagine this. You’re driving along on Eastern, trying to get to your favorite donut shop. The tunes are playing loudly on the radio and you’re not paying much attention to the road as you sing along. The light ahead of you turns red and the cars stop, but you miss it. You slam on the brakes, unexpectedly. Suddenly, your rear fender finds itself lodged in the front fender of the car behind you. Horrified, you call the police and your personal injury lawyer. Then, you get out of your car and apologize profusely. After all, your mom raised you to be polite and apologize for things. But did you just admit your guilt? And can it cause you legal difficulty if your case goes to court?

Outcomes of Apologies in Court Cases

There’s two possible outcomes when you apologize after an accident. In one case, a sincere apology can lessen a person’s anger, thus making it less likely that they will seek legal action. In the other case, it’s a question of “anything you say can be used against you in a court of law.” By apologizing, they may argue you indicate your liability in the matter and it gives the other party a compelling case against you.

Thirty-six states have recognized the detriment that an apology can cause to a potential defendant and have enacted “Apology Laws”. First applied to medical malpractice, the laws protect anyone who makes a statement of sympathy or benevolent gesture following an accident. As long as the person doesn’t actually admit guilt, such statements are not admissible as evidence. Unfortunately, Nevada is not one of those states, so legal protections for an apology are limited.

So, how do you apologize without admitting guilt?

First, think about if an apology really is important in the situation. It might be your gut reaction, even if you did nothing wrong, but is it necessary? In our example above, there was obviously a lapse in judgment by driving distractedly, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should apologize for being in an accident.

Second, if you decide that an apology is worthwhile, don’t admit any fault or place any blame. It’s important to not give any indication that you are liable. You shouldn’t express any opinions or hunches about what caused the accident or how it could have been avoided.

Third, consider finding something different to say, instead of “I’m sorry.” Simply saying “I’m sorry” is relatively ambiguous and can be applied to many different situations, including accidents, funerals, and arguments. Find specific language for the sentiment you are trying to express. In our above example, you might say, “I understand how frustrating this situation is” instead of “I’m sorry I stopped so abruptly.”

Dr. Ken Broda-Bahm, a Ph.D. in persuasive strategies, gave two suggestions on how to show you are sorry: one, acknowledge pain, death, loss, and inconvenience; two, don’t let acknowledgement get confused with responsibility. In short, there are many occasions when apologizing is meaningful, and can even be beneficial, but don’t let anyone mistake saying “I’m sorry” for saying “It’s my fault.”

In general, when you’ve been in an accident, the old adage probably still holds true: “It’s better to say nothing at all.” And if you have been in an accident, please call our office today at 702-450-4868 and we can explain your legal rights and remedies under the law.

What to Do When Involved In a Slip and Fall Accident

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Hiring a mesquite tx slip and fall accident lawyer after you’re involved in a slip and fall accident can help you successfully bring a case against the liable party. Continue reading →

Reach Out for Legal Assistance for Your Slip and Fall Injury

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When you use public property or when you’re in your work place, you have the right to expect safety and trust the authorities responsible for that property are looking out for your safety. Continue reading →

Slip and Fall Injury Compensation in Las Vegas Could Benefit You

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When you are recovering from a slip and fall injury, it is a difficult time for your whole family. If the injury was the fault of another individual or organization, it is even harder. However, if you reach out for help, a Las Vegas slip and fall attorney may be able to show you a way to hold those responsible accountable. Continue reading →

Slip and Falls in a Las Vegas Hotel

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Victims of a slip and fall at a Las Vegas hotel or casino could be entitled to compensation, especially if the incident results in a serious injury.

Your Rights Pertaining to Las Vegas Hotel Slips and Falls

When you visit the city of Las Vegas, you may be attracted to the excitement, glitz, and glamour, like most tourists that flock to the many hotels and casinos to enjoy the entertainment and attractions. What you don’t expect is for a daytime outing or a night on the town to take a turn for the worse when you suffer from an unexpected slip or fall in one of the hotels. If this accident leads to a serious injury, you could be entitled to compensation for the damages you suffer due to the personal injury, which is why you should know your rights.

Holding the Hotel or Casino Accountable

If you have suffered from as slip and fall at one of the Las Vegas hotels, you will need to hold that venue accountable for its negligence. Perhaps you fell and injured yourself on a puddle of water while waiting in the buffet line, or maybe a construction area outside of the hotel was not sectioned off probably, or you could have tripped on an uneven floor surface. Regardless of how the accident occurred, you could be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical expenses
• Wage loss
• Pain and suffering
• Mental and emotional damages

Types of Slip and Fall Accidents

There are various types of slips and falls that could lead to serious injuries, which you may be entitled to compensation for. This includes:

• Damaged railing and stairs
• Wet or slippery floors
• Loose carpet
• Sidewalks or floors that are uneven
• Faulty escalators or elevators
• Dangerous or hazardous construction zones

Issues With Hotel or Casino Slip and Fall Cases

Even though you have slip and fall rights, you will need to prove that the Las Vegas hotel is liable for the incident. Establishing fault is one of the most essential parts of your case. This means that you will need to prove that the casino or hotel knew about the hazard and failed to fix the issue in a timely manner. However, if the venue was not aware of the hazard, you must prove how they should have known about the issue. One can go on USGamblingSites.com and gamble from the comfort pf their homes to avoid such instances.

Get the Legal Representation That you Need

Nevada laws place a lot of the responsibility on pedestrians, which can also be a challenge when fighting for your rights. However, an established slip and fall attorney Las Vegas can help you face this challenge. When you schedule your free consultation with the Law Offices of Laura Hunt, you are taking the first step in acquiring experienced representation that provides caring service and proven results. Our firm has spent years taking on slip and fall cases that many Las Vegas personal injury attorneys have turned down.

Call today and get the legal representation that you need!