How A Slip And Fall Expert Witness Can Help Your Case
If you have filed a slip and fall injury lawsuit, you should prepare for the possibility of using an expert witness to strengthen your case. Here are the specific advantages you may get by using such a witness:
Cause of the Accident
If you are pursuing a slip and fall accident case, the defense can argue that just because you slipped and fall in a shopping mall, it doesn't mean the shopping mall's owner is responsible for your accident. Maybe you fell because you were distracted by your phone, you were wearing shoes with broken heels or you were carrying a shopping basket that was too heavy for you.
An expert witness may be able to help you prove the true cause of your accident. For example, they may be able to show that the weight you were carrying was normal for a person of your size, age, and health. Or they may explain how the level of oil spills on the ground was enough to make you slip and fall.
Regulatory Compliance
An expert witness can also explain to the court how the shopping mall wasn't following regulations at the time of your fall. This will be helpful because others, including the judge or jury, may not be aware of what these regulations are in the first place. For example, if a shopping mall is required to provide a certain level of illumination on its stairs, the expert witness will explain why this is the case and how the lack of proper stair illumination caused your injury.
Property Maintenance
Inadequate property maintenance is one of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents. For example, if floor tiles are loose, litters are all over the floor or the roof is leaking, the risk of slip and fall injuries increase. Your expert witness will be able to explain the link between the maintenance issues and your injuries in a manner everyone in court can understand.
Design and Construction
Improper design and construction are also common causes of slip and fall injuries. For example, uneven lengths of stairs can cause you to lose your footing and fall. However, the general public (including members of the jury) may not immediately see the gravity of the situation because the defect may not even be visible to the naked eye. An expert witness will be able to explain what the defect means and how it caused your slip and fall accident.
Contact an attorney, like Borbi Clancy Patrizi, LLC, for more help.