Wyoming Slip And Fall Lawyer

Were you injured in a slip and fall accident in Wyoming?

At Davis & Johnson Law Office, we help injured clients across Wyoming pursue full recovery in slip and fall matters.

If you were injured in a fall on property owned or maintained by another party in Wyoming, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical treatment and lost income. Liability depends on whether the property owner knew of the hazard or should have discovered it. Our Wyoming slip and fall lawyer gathers the evidence that establishes what the condition was and how long it remained in place.

Jason Johnson has represented injured plaintiffs at Davis & Johnson Law Office for more than a decade, and the firm has practiced in this state since 1979. Contact our office to review the circumstances of your fall.

Slip and Fall Lawyer Wyoming

A slip and fall lawyer represents people injured by hazardous conditions on property controlled by another party. Two questions determine the outcome. Whether the condition was unreasonably dangerous, and whether the owner knew of it or had sufficient opportunity to discover it.

Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury hospitalizations in Wyoming and the third leading cause of unintentional injury deaths, according to state health data. Extended winters, compacted snow, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles across sidewalks and parking lots contribute to those figures. Establishing the duration of a hazard is central to these claims, because a condition present for two minutes and one present for two days support very different conclusions about notice.

Types of Slip and Fall Cases We Handle in Wyoming

The location of a fall determines the duties owed and the deadlines that apply. A retail store, a rental unit, a job site, and a county building are each governed by different standards. The following matters account for most of the fall claims we handle statewide.

• Ice and snow falls. Compacted snow across a walkway, a downspout discharging onto a sidewalk, and a lot cleared everywhere except its perimeter are the conditions we encounter between October and April. Whether the owner had a reasonable opportunity to treat the surface generally determines liability.
• Wet floors and spills. A spill in a retail aisle or water tracked in near an entrance creates a hazard within moments. The duration of that condition governs the claim, which is why inspection logs and cleaning schedules become primary evidence.
• Workplace injuries. Falls occurring on the job proceed under a separate system in Wyoming. Construction accounted for 47.4% of all fatal falls, slips, and trips nationwide in 2022, according to federal labor data. A claim against a negligent third party may proceed alongside the state process.
• Stairs and handrails. Loose treads, inconsistent riser heights, and absent or unsecured handrails produce fractures to the wrist, hip, and shoulder. We photograph and measure a stairway before repairs alter the condition.
• Parking lot hazards. Potholes, deteriorated curbs, poorly positioned wheel stops, and unlit areas account for a substantial share of these injuries. Responsibility may rest with the owner, a management company, or a maintenance contractor, and we identify each party involved.
• Poor lighting. A stairwell, corridor, or lot without adequate illumination conceals conditions that would otherwise be apparent. Maintenance requests and prior complaints frequently document the deficiency.
• Rental property falls. Tenants and their guests sustain injuries on stairs, walkways, and common areas the landlord was obligated to maintain. Specific circumstances determine when landlords are liable for those injuries.
• Nursing home and senior living falls. A fall within a care facility often results from inadequate staffing, an unanswered call light, or a documented fall risk that went unaddressed. Fall death rates among adults 65 and older increased 21% between 2018 and 2024, according to CDC fall data.
• Falls at recreation venues. Rinks, arenas, fairgrounds, and event spaces commonly assert a signed waiver or an assumption of risk defense. Those defenses have recognized limits, as litigation over amusement park injuries demonstrates.

Why Choose Davis & Johnson Law Office as my Slip and Fall Lawyer in Wyoming?

Evidence in a fall case deteriorates quickly. That reality governs how we staff these matters and where we direct our effort at the outset.

Evidence Work That Starts Immediately

Surveillance systems overwrite recordings on a fixed cycle, frequently within days. Spills are cleaned and ice is treated within hours. Jason Johnson issues preservation demands promptly, identifies the employees on duty at the time, and establishes when the condition first appeared. His law degree is from the University of Wyoming College of Law. He holds membership in the Wyoming Trial Lawyers, a plaintiff-side bar organization, along with a Top 40 Under 40 selection from The National Trial Lawyers. Acting quickly on evidence is what you should expect from a personal injury lawyer in Wyoming.

Results in Wyoming Fall Cases

Our injury representation proceeds on a contingency fee. No payment is required at retention or during the case. The fee is drawn from the recovery as an agreed percentage. Personal injury consultations are provided at no charge. The full arrangement is set out in our published fee structure. Jason has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients in this state, and his fall results include the following.

• $250,000 for a woman injured while walking across a parking lot.
• $125,000 for a person who tripped at a gambling facility.

What Is Important to Understand About a Slip and Fall Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Slip and Fall Cases

Liability in a fall case rests on notice. A property owner owes visitors reasonable care, and that duty is breached where the owner created the hazard, had actual knowledge of it, or should have discovered it through reasonable inspection. Establishing that the owner should have known is the central dispute in most of these claims, and documentary records resolve it more reliably than witness recollection.

Fault is apportioned under Wyoming’s modified comparative fault rule. A claimant assigned more than half of the total fault recovers nothing, and any lesser percentage reduces the award proportionally. That structure explains the standard defense approach, which is to attribute a share of the fault to the injured person for inattention, footwear, or disregard of an apparent condition.

Recoverable damages include medical treatment already provided and treatment reasonably anticipated, wages lost during recovery, diminished earning capacity where an impairment is permanent, pain and suffering, and out-of-pocket expenses. The filing period for most personal injury actions under Wyoming’s civil statutes is four years from the date of the fall. Claims against a government property owner are subject to a substantially shorter deadline and require immediate attention. The compensation available corresponds to the severity of the injury and the strength of the notice evidence.

What Is The Slip and Fall Case Timeline?

Fall claims follow a defined sequence, though the pace varies with the severity of the injury and the extent of the dispute over liability.

1. Investigation, beginning with preservation demands and the incident report.
2. Medical treatment, proceeding alongside the investigation until the condition stabilizes.
3. A demand package submitted to the property owner’s insurer.
4. Negotiation, which resolves the majority of claims.
5. Suit, discovery, and depositions of the personnel responsible for maintaining the property.
6. Mediation or trial where the dispute over notice remains unresolved.

An uncomplicated claim may conclude within several months. A claim in which the owner denies knowledge of the hazard takes considerably longer.

What Are Important Aspects of a Slip and Fall Case?

Three factors distinguish a well-supported fall claim. The record the injured person creates, the records the property owner maintains, and the care taken to protect credibility while the claim remains open.

• Report the fall in writing. Request an incident report and obtain a copy before leaving the property. An unreported fall permits the owner to dispute that the incident occurred on the premises, and owner negligence becomes substantially harder to establish without that documentation.
• Photograph the condition before it changes. Ice, liquid, a damaged step, and lighting all present differently within an hour. Property owner liability in this state frequently turns on the condition as it existed at the time of the fall.
• Document the injury on an ongoing basis. Pain becomes difficult to describe accurately months afterward, and a pain journal records the effect of an injury on sleep, work, and daily activity.
• Limit online activity while the claim is open. A single photograph is subject to adverse interpretation, and social media is among the first sources a defense investigator reviews.
• Address a child’s fall with equal seriousness. Playgrounds, school entrances, and icy walkways produce injuries that are frequently minimized, though winter injury risks for children warrant the same documentation as any other claim.

What Should You Bring to Your Slip and Fall Consultation?

During the consultation, our attorney will review any documents you have pertaining to the fall.  None of the following is required in order to meet with us.

• Photographs or video of the condition and the surrounding area.
• The incident report, together with the name of the person who prepared it.
• Contact information for witnesses and anyone who provided assistance.
• The footwear and clothing worn at the time, unlaundered if possible.
• Medical records, billing statements, and correspondence from any insurer.

Most initial meetings require less than an hour. You will leave understanding whether the notice evidence exists, how substantial it appears, and how to proceed.

Reach Out to Davis & Johnson Law Office to Schedule a Consultation

A fall that appears minor at the scene frequently results in months of treatment. The negligent property owner should be held responsible for the harm you have endured. There is no charge for the personal injury consultation, and our fee is drawn solely from any recovery obtained. Describe where the fall occurred and the condition that caused it, and we will evaluate the notice evidence and provide a direct assessment. You will receive prompt responses and regular updates throughout the claim. Contact us to speak with a Wyoming slip and fall attorney.

Slip and Fall Statistics in Wyoming

Wyoming’s fall numbers are shaped by two things: a long winter that repeatedly freezes and thaws every exposed surface, and an older population spread across small communities where a fall often means a long drive to the nearest trauma center.

Federal figures separate fatal falls from the far larger group of people who are hurt and survive. That second group is where premises claims come from, and a Wyoming slip and fall lawyer builds a case on the property owner’s records.

• Wyoming recorded 80 unintentional fall deaths among adults age 65 and older in 2023, a rate of 71.5 per 100,000, above the national rate of 69.9, according to CDC fall data.
• Among adults 85 and older, the national fall death rate reached 339.5 per 100,000 in 2023, roughly five times the rate for the 65-and-over population as a whole.
• State rates vary widely, from 29.5 per 100,000 in Alabama to 158.4 in Wisconsin, a spread driven largely by climate and each state’s age profile.
• Fall death rates for adults 85 and older more than doubled between 2003 and 2023.
• Wyoming’s workplace fatality rate remains among the highest in the country for a state of its size, a pattern BLS state data has tracked for more than a decade.

Common Types of Injuries in a Slip and Fall Case

How a person lands, what they land on, and whether they caught themselves determine both the diagnosis and, eventually, the value of the claim.

1. Wrist and forearm fractures. The instinctive move is to break the fall with an outstretched hand, and the wrist absorbs the entire body weight at impact. Distal radius fractures are the most common injury in this practice. Many require surgical hardware, and a hand that does not fully recover affects the ability to work.
2. Hip fractures. A sideways fall onto the hip is the injury most associated with older adults. Surgery is nearly always required, recovery is measured in months rather than weeks, and a meaningful share of patients never return to their prior level of independence. These are the highest-value fall claims for that reason.
3. Traumatic brain injuries. A head striking tile, concrete, or a stair edge can produce a concussion or something considerably worse, and the symptoms frequently do not appear at the scene. Headaches, memory problems, and personality changes emerge over the following weeks. Claims involving brain injury require careful documentation because the deficits are not visible on an X-ray.
4. Spinal and back injuries. Herniated discs, compression fractures, and nerve impingement follow from landing hard on the tailbone or twisting during a fall. These injuries are frequently disputed, because degenerative changes appear on imaging for most adults past forty and carriers argue the findings predate the fall.
5. Shoulder injuries. Rotator cuff tears and labral damage result from bracing against a railing or catching a door frame on the way down. They heal slowly, they limit overhead work permanently in some cases, and they are easy to undervalue early because pain often increases after the first few weeks.
6. Facial and dental trauma. A forward fall without time to brace produces broken teeth, orbital fractures, and lacerations that scar. Dental reconstruction is expensive, rarely covered in full by insurance, and visible in a way that supports a substantial non-economic damages claim.
7. Soft tissue injuries. Sprains, strains, and deep bruising get dismissed as minor until they are not. Symptoms often surface days later, which is why the gap between the fall and the first medical visit becomes such a contested detail, and why what not to say at the scene matters more than people realize.

Wyoming Slip and Fall Lawyer FAQs

What does “open and obvious” mean in a slip and fall case?

It is the defense argument that the hazard was visible enough that a reasonably attentive person would have avoided it. Property owners raise it constantly, particularly with ice. The argument has limits: a condition can be visible and still unreasonably dangerous, and a visitor may have no practical alternative route. In Wyoming this usually folds into comparative fault rather than ending the claim, reducing recovery by the share assigned to you rather than barring it.

What if I did not report the fall when it happened?

The claim becomes harder, not impossible. An incident report created the same day is powerful evidence that the fall occurred where you say it did. Without one, we look for substitutes: a call to a family member, a same-day medical visit noting the location, a receipt placing you on the property, or an employee who remembers helping you. Report it in writing as soon as you realize you are hurt, even if days have passed, and keep a copy.

Does a signed waiver prevent me from bringing a claim?

Not automatically. Rinks, gyms, and event venues routinely require waivers, and they do carry weight. Wyoming courts examine whether the language was clear, whether it covered the specific conduct at issue, and whether enforcing it would offend public policy. A waiver generally cannot excuse conduct beyond ordinary negligence, and it rarely covers hazards unrelated to the activity the visitor signed up for. Bring the document to the consultation so it can be read closely.

How long does a property owner have to fix a hazard?

There is no fixed number of minutes, which frustrates people who want a clear rule. The standard is reasonableness under the circumstances. A spill in a grocery aisle on a busy Saturday demands prompt attention, because the store knows spills occur and inspects for them. Snow falling during an active storm is judged differently than snow compacted on a walkway for three days. Duration is established through inspection logs, weather records, and employee testimony.

What if I fell on government property?

Claims against a state agency, county, city, or school district follow a separate and much shorter track than claims against private owners. Notice requirements apply, the deadlines are considerably tighter than the four-year period governing ordinary personal injury actions, and missing a procedural step can end an otherwise strong claim. If your fall occurred at a courthouse, public school, municipal building, or city sidewalk, treat the timing as urgent.

Can I bring a claim if I fell at a friend’s or relative’s home?

Yes, and the question comes up more often than people expect. A claim of this kind runs against a homeowner’s insurance policy rather than against the person, which is what that coverage exists for. Nobody’s savings are at stake. Declining a legitimate claim out of loyalty usually means your own health insurer seeks reimbursement anyway. Discuss it openly with the homeowner, and weigh whether you have a valid injury lawsuit before deciding.

Does my footwear matter?

It matters because the defense will make it matter. Expect questions about tread, heel height, and whether the shoes suited the conditions. Keep what you were wearing, unwashed, and do not repair or discard them. Footwear rarely defeats a claim on its own, but it is a standard tactic for shifting a percentage of fault onto the injured person. Under Wyoming’s comparative fault rule every percentage point reduces the recovery.

What if my child was injured in a fall?

Children are held to a different standard of care than adults, and owners owe heightened attention where children are foreseeably present: playgrounds, schools, apartment complexes. Claims for a minor carry different timing rules and often require court approval of any settlement. Document the incident exactly as you would an adult injury. Assuming children bounce back is what leads families to under-document serious harm.

Who pays my medical bills while the claim is pending?

Usually your own health insurance, occasionally a medical payments provision in a homeowner or commercial policy, and sometimes providers willing to wait. The property owner’s liability carrier does not pay as you go. It pays once, at resolution, which is one reason a first settlement offer can feel tempting while bills accumulate. Health insurers and Medicare typically assert reimbursement rights against your settlement, and pre-existing conditions shape what they can recover.

What if the property owner blames a maintenance contractor?

Then there are two potential defendants and possibly two policies. Snow removal contractors, janitorial services, and property managers assume defined duties by contract, and those contracts determine who answers for the condition. This is not a reason to accept a denial. It is a reason to obtain the service agreements early, because an owner and a contractor pointing at each other often produces a better combined recovery than either alone.

Important Resources for Wyoming Slip and Fall Cases

What Are Important Wyoming Legal Resources for Slip and Fall Cases?

These sources help you read the law yourself. None of them substitutes for advice about your own facts, and whether any of it applies depends entirely on how your fall occurred.

• The Wyoming Judicial Branch maintains a legal resources page covering statutes, court rules, and where to find case law.
• Equal Justice Wyoming publishes a guide to legal research written for people without legal training.
• The Wyoming State Law Library holds the full statutes, session laws, and pattern jury instructions, described on its research and resources page.
• The Library of Congress compiles free Wyoming legal guides covering the court system and where to find state law online.
• Negligence, the four-year filing period for personal injury actions, and the categories of recoverable damages are the three areas worth reading before a consultation.

What Are Important Local Resources for Wyoming Slip and Fall Cases?

The offices below handle fall prevention, care facility complaints, and the public records that premises claims rely on. Davis & Johnson Law Office is not affiliated with any of them and does not endorse them, and contact details change.

• Wyoming Injury and Violence Prevention Program, (307) 777-2424, which runs the state’s older adult fall prevention work
• Aging Division Community Living Section, (307) 777-7995, for services supporting older adults and people with disabilities
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman, (307) 287-7757, which takes complaints about falls and care in licensed facilities
• Wyoming State Law Library, (307) 777-7509, open to the public in Cheyenne
• Wyoming Department of Health, (307) 777-7656, for facility licensing records and public health data

About Davis & Johnson Law Office

Founding member Kelly S. Davis has practiced in Wyoming since 1979 and has belonged to the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys since 1997. He served on the board of the Wyoming Guardianship Corporation for over a decade and helped bring the Uniform Power of Attorney Act to Wyoming, work that began with an early career investigating Medicare fraud. That background matters here, because so many premises injuries involve older adults and licensed care facilities. Injury results include $520,000 for a compound fracture sustained while the client was helping another person. The practice also covers workers’ compensation and wrongful death claims.

What Our Clients Say

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“From the first phone call, these guys were different. From the legal assistant to the attorney, they were unlike any other. They sounded human and caring, compassionate, not the typical arrogant and/or conceited. They were down to earth, caring about me as a person more than the money they could make from my case. These folks were funny, personable, and people just like us. Meeting them in person, they seemed like a family I could sit and have dinner with. I refer everyone to them and will continue to do so. They are professional, personable, and keep you in the loop as to what is going on. So glad we found them!”

— Nikki Devlin

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Additional Resources for Wyoming Slip and Fall Cases

• 7 Crucial Steps to Protect Your Health and Legal Rights
• Signs You Should Call an Injury Lawyer Today
• 6 Signs You Should File an Injury Lawsuit
• Pressure Sores and Nursing Home Neglect
• Think Before You Sign That Settlement Offer

Contact Davis & Johnson Law Office

Personal injury consultations cost nothing, and fall cases are handled on a contingency, so no attorney fee is owed unless we recover for you. Tell us where you fell, what the condition was, and whether anyone took a report. We will identify what evidence still exists, explain how the notice question looks in your situation, and give you a direct answer on whether the claim should move forward. Contact us to speak with a Wyoming slip and fall attorney.