Slip & Fall Practice

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Slip & Fall Practice

by Charles E. Turnbow

An Insider's Guide to Maximizing Slip & Fall Settlements

Plaintiffs' attorneys lose more than 40% of their slip and fall cases. Considering this statistic, it is no surprise that slip and fall cases are the most difficult to win. As a result, they are often shunned by plaintiffs' counsel and undervalued by defendants and insurance carriers.

Failure to prove a causative link between the hazard and a negligent act of the defendant is the number one reason for the high number of losses in slip and fall cases. In this book, Charles Turnbow, attorney-engineering consultant on over 9,000 slip and fall cases, provides you with an organization system and the tools to efficiently develop persuasive slip and fall claims. He shows you how to prove the causation (and how to efficiently screen out cases lacking it) in his highly-respected tool book, Slip & Fall Practice:

Analyzing the mechanics of the fall to identify the cause.
The most common cases and what they must have to win.
Documenting the dangerous condition and the negligence that caused it.
Establishing the duty of care.
Proving control of the premises.
Establishing actual or constructive notice.
Showing that the hazard caused the injury.

Charles Turnbow’s dual career as both engineer and attorney enables him to bring you dozens of insider tips that are pertinent from a legal standpoint. Even veteran personal injury specialists will benefit from his easily understandable technical evaluations and practice pointers, such as:

Why building plans seldom reflect the “as built” condition of the stairway. Section 820.5
Why many of the building code requirements are not subject to field inspection during construction. Section 850
A great questioning technique that helps you establish duty and causation through the opposition’s expert. Section 450
The not-so-obvious qualifications the defense expert should have, and how to highlight their absence.
Section 543.3
Eight items to check for in every inspection of the accident site. Section 770
Why you should never have the plaintiff present during your site inspection. If the plaintiff has to be present, here’s what to do. Section 522.1
How safety features and warning devices can actually increase the risk of an accident. Section 632
The methods for measuring the coefficient of friction. Section 710
How to construct a comprehensive settlement package that presents your case in its best light and provides a strong foundation for the demand. Section 1080
Why special jury instructions can give you an advantage in the courtroom and how to get yours admitted. Examples help you draft them with minimal time and effort. Section 1141
A simple three-question method that lets you take full advantage of your expert witness’ knowledge.
Section 1250
Why demonstrative evidence often backfires in the courtroom. If using visuals, here’s how to safeguard yourself. Section 1160

Each slip and fall case has its own set of hurdles you must overcome: obtaining evidence at the scene, finding independent witnesses, establishing how long the slipped-upon substance was on the floor, what to do when evidence disappears, and more. Slip & Fall Practice can help you over these hurdles. In the case of an apartment fall, Turnbow offers you this advice:

Establishing Liability. The defendant will likely deny actual notice of the condition, so you must establish constructive notice by showing:

The defect would have been discovered by the defendant using ordinary care. Section 121.2
The landlord’s failure to inspect or take reasonable precautions. Section 942.3
Depositions pertaining to the condition of the premises immediately prior to and subsequent to the accident. Section 543

Disappearing Evidence. If conditions of the accident site have changed, you must:

Determine the mechanics of the fall. A complete description of what happened will give a clear indication of the type of hazard, the activities of the pedestrian immediately prior to the accident, and the manner in which the plaintiff fell victim to the hazard. Section 411
Discover if the changes to the premises were made specifically to correct a dangerous condition. Section 423
Get the testimony from paramedics who maintain reports on the accident’s location and premise’s condition. Section 141.1
Rule out the plaintiff’s shoes as a cause of the accident by measuring the tractive properties of the soles and heels. Section 143.1

Negligent Defendant. The following will prove the landlord breached his duty of ordinary or reasonable care:

Prior incidents or complaints about the stairway. Section 426
Photographs. The handrails may have been replaced, but can rusting and staining of the stucco around the bolt holes be seen in the photographs? Section 144
Statistics. Approximately 68% of accidents are caused by a defect in the stairway. Shouldn’t the landlord have inspected this area more often? Section 820.5

Structural Defects. A violation of the Uniform Building Code may grant a negligence per se jury instruction. Be sure to answer these questions:

Was there a variation in the height of risers between any two steps larger than the allowable 3/8”? Section 622.2
Were the bricks of the steps aligned in neat rows? This makes the edges of individual steps hard to see and can cause a misstep. Section 632.2
Most accidents occur at the top or bottom two or three stairs; were the handrails maintained in a secure manner at these areas? Section 850.5.2
Were the rise and run of each step measured and checked by the building inspector? They’re usually not. Section 1292.3

Slip & Fall Practice is loaded with case evaluation strategies, illustrative fact patterns (with photos), discovery forms, expert witness checklists, case authorities, building code citations, model pleadings, trial preparation aids, and most important, time-saving and case-winning practice tips. The book includes more than 500 loose-leaf pages that guide you through the complexities of slip and fall cases. New features to the book include new standards and codes, questions for examining experts and a brand new CD-ROM. The CD-ROM contains over 50 helpful forms, checklists, letters, and other resources.

Updated annually. ISBN 1-58012-007-5 Book price: $99.00

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Reviews

"Slip and Fall Practice is a practical guide to handling slip and fall cases. This manual uses an exhaustive ‘checklist’ approach with explanations on virtually every issue and element that might arise in these cases."
—Excerpted from TRIAL Magazine.

"In Slip and Fall Practice, [Charles Turnbow] shares his considerable legal and technical expertise with other lawyers who are dealing with the "mysterious and often frustrating slip and fall case." His practical, well-organized text guides lawyers around the technical obstacles and legal pitfalls of the most ubiquitous personal injury litigation. Busy advocates will especially appreciate the useful checklists and sample litigation materials scattered throughout the book."
—Excerpted from Lawyers Weekly USA.