What do I do if I fell at a gaming casino because of very uneven cement?

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What do I do if I fell at a gaming casino because of very uneven cement?

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night at our local Indian casino I fell when I stepped onto uneven sidewalk. My ankle twisted my wrist hurts and now my gip hurts too. I have a previous avulsion fracture on my hip. I am going to the

hospital. I refused their offer of an ambulance telling them my husband could take me if necessary. I need to know what to do about this bill that I have as a result.

Asked on May 1, 2018 under Personal Injury, California

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 5 years ago | Contributor

This will be a very difficult case.
First and foremost, Indian casinos may not be sued in state or federal court for a slip-and-fall injury: Indian tribes are semi-sovereign entitities (i.e. their own governments, like being their own states or even nations, subject to some limitations) and you would have to sue in the tribe's courts: tribal courts have jurisdiction, or power, over injuries on tribal land, including at their casinos (which are considered tribal land). Not surprisingly, tribal courts tend to favor their casinos, which are major employers and cash cows for the tribes, and getting a fully fair hearing in them when you sue a casino is difficult. In addition, tribal courts operate under their own court rules, so you would need an attorney with experience in this tribe's courts, which may be difficult to find.
Second, while you say the sidewalk is uneven, you'd have to prove that it was "unreasonably dangerous"--more dangerous than is considered reasonable or acceptable in a sidewalk--to win your case, and that may not be easy to do.
Third, you cannot recover for anything associated with your prior fracture--that is not their fault or responsibility. You can only sue for the twisted ankel and wrist and any medical bills (not paid by insurance) you have for them. That may not be enough potential compensation to make suing in tribal court, going up against casino lawyers, worthwhile. You can ask the casino for compensation, but if they refuse or don't offer as much as you'd like, take further action may not be worthwhile.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

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