Slip and Fall Cases on Government Property in Utah

A slip and fall accident is a serious issue and warrants the need for lawyer. A slip and fall accident becomes more complex if you’re injured on government property in Salt Lake City or nationwide.

All Law – a legal database – says, “A municipality is only liable for a slip and fall accident on a street or sidewalk if it was negligent and its negligence was a cause of your accident. Simply because you fell on a street or sidewalk does not mean that the city or town was negligent.”

In most cases the property management company or commercial owners of the property on which you were injured will be liable. However, if you were injured as a result of structural damage on state or government property such as sidewalk cracks, the government entity may be liable.

As a result, if you’re injured in a slip and fall on government property in Salt Lake City or abroad, contact a lawyer for help evaluating your unique claim. In addition to determining who is at fault, a legal professional will help you determine your state’s specific time and filing requirements.

NOLO – an online source for legal information – says, “First, the federal government -- and most, if not all, states -- have strict notice and time deadlines for making a claim against a governmental entity. Second, the federal government and most states place a limit on how much you can recover from the state or a municipality if you win.”

Nolo reports that some states have 30 day filling requirements for injuries and only cover the first $100,000 in damage. Additionally, there are strict filling requirements regarding where claims need to be sent and what needs to be included when making an official claim. If any information is omitted or incorrect, claims will be delayed and may not fall within the statute of limitations. 

The issue of government liability in a slip and fall will be different in Salt Lake City than other cities in the U.S. If you or a loved one is involved in an accident on government property, contact a lawyer for help navigating this murky legal territory.

As with other personal injury claims, in a claim involving a government entity, individuals will need to prove negligence on the part of the government. Individuals injured in a slip and fall should always take pictures of the scene as well as any personal damage.

Proving government negligence during your slip and fall case is going to be difficult. Whether you’re injured in Salt Lake City or across the country, you’ll need all the help you can get – contact a lawyer.

Nicole Donaldson is a legal writer for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Robert J Debry. Follow on Twitter.