Maximizing Your Claim: A Deep Dive into Slip and Fall Personal Injury Claims

In a public setting or private environment, you have the right to walk safely from one spot to another. Therefore, if you slip and fall because a property owner fails to keep their property safe, you might be entitled to compensation for your related losses.

Premises liability law, which includes slip and fall injury claims, attempts to protect individuals from the consequences of slip and fall accidents. Experienced slip and fall injury attorneys can often secure compensation for your medical costs and your pain and suffering.

The seasoned slip and fall attorneys at Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers are relentless. We will put our decades of experience to work for you. And it won’t cost you a dime upfront because we work on a contingency fee basis—which means we don’t get paid until we get money for you. Contact us today to learn more about your legal options.

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Common Slip and Fall Scenarios

A slip and fall can happen for many reasons and are more common than you think. The statistics are staggering. Typical examples of conditions that might form the grounds for a successful slip and fall claim include the following:

Slippery surfaces without warning signs;
Poor lighting;
Uneven floors or surfaces;
Dangerous stairwells;
Cracked or broken sidewalks;
Torn, broken, or raised portions of carpet; and
Failing to provide barriers for hazardous conditions.

Property owners must warn visitors and guests about any potentially dangerous conditions. Certain places are more susceptible than others to slip and fall accidents. Common locations for slip and fall incidents include the following:

Grocery stores—workers can be slow to clean up spills, or they might clean floors in a way that leaves unsafe residue behind;
Nursing homes—falls are common among older adults, but unsafe conditions inside a nursing home can contribute to slip and fall incidents;
Restaurants—when employees fail to clean up spills in a timely manner, customers may slip and fall;
Parking lots—inclement weather, such as ice and snow, can create unsafe conditions making parking lots hazardous for pedestrians; and
Apartment stairways and entrances—failure to inspect and repair damaged stairs can lead to slip and fall accidents.

Many slip and fall incidents occur in public spaces due to conditions that could have been corrected before someone fell and sustained an injury.

Common Slip and Fall Injury Types

Slip and fall accidents can lead to serious injuries. Common injuries from slips and falls include the following:

Broken and fractured bones;
Bruises, scrapes, and cuts;
Spinal cord injuries;
Concussions;
Traumatic brain injuries;
Soft tissue injuries;
Chronic pain; and
Sprained ankles, wrists, knees, necks, and backs.

Slip and fall injuries range from minor to severe and can sometimes even be deadly. It is important to hold responsible parties liable for your injuries.

Who Is Liable for Slip and Fall Accidents?

Property owners in Pennsylvania have the responsibility to maintain their property in a reasonably safe manner and warn of any known hazardous conditions. The parties that may be liable include the following:

A homeowner,
An employer,
A commercial property owner or lessee,
A municipality or local government department, and
A property management company.

The responsibility for maintaining safe conditions could fall on multiple parties, depending on the property type. Always seek assistance from a lawyer after an incident to help determine all potentially responsible parties.

Do I Have Grounds for an Injury Claim?

To establish a credible claim based on negligence, you must prove these elements:

The property owner owed you a duty of care;
The owner knew about or should have known about the hazard that caused the accident;
The property owner failed to remedy or properly warn of the dangerous condition;
The breach of duty was a direct cause of the injury; and
You suffered losses as a result of this breach.

If you suffered losses from a fall and can prove these elements, you are likely eligible to receive compensation. Speak to a lawyer to see if you have a valid case.

Seeking Compensation for Slip and Fall Injuries

If you have grounds for an injury claim, you may seek economic damages. These damages are direct, tangible economic losses that can include the following:

Medical bills,
Lost wages,
Lost future earnings,
Physical therapy appointments, and
Transportation costs.

In addition to economic costs, you can pursue damages for noneconomic losses like pain and suffering, the loss of quality of life, and emotional distress. These are less tangible and more subjective than economic damages. And there are no receipts for pay stubs to use in calculating the value of these losses. Your lawyer will know how to assess their monetary value.

Ultimately, the amount of money you can get for a slip and fall claim depends on several factors, including the following:

The defendant’s insurance coverage limits,
The severity of your injuries, and
Whether you bear any responsibility for the incident.

Someone’s negligence can quickly add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. As such, insurance companies and property owners may try to convince you that the incident and resulting injuries were due to your carelessness. But don’t fall for these tactics until you speak to an attorney who is looking out for your interests. Get help with your claim as soon as you can.

Statute of Limitations

Getting started on your slip and fall claim immediately is critical. Evidence disappears, and memories fade. You must file a slip and fall claim before the expiration of the statute of limitations, or you will be forever barred from seeking compensation. For a premises liability claim in Pennsylvania, including a slip and fall, a plaintiff must file the claim within two years of the accident in most cases. That might seem like a long time. But the longer you wait, the more rushed your attorney will be. Give them time to collect evidence, conduct discovery, negotiate, and decide if the case must go to trial. In other words, it is not in your best interest to wait. Contact a skilled attorney immediately to find out whether you have grounds for legal action.

Contact Slip and Fall Injury Lawyers in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia slip and fall attorneys at Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers have been helping injured victims for decades. We want to help you after an accident by getting you the financial compensation you need to pay your bills and move forward in life. We understand that you may be experiencing financial hardship and will work to secure money as fast as possible without jeopardizing your compensation. If you or a loved one have been injured in a slip and fall accident, call or contact us online to discuss what options are available to you.