Slip and Fall Accidents

If you fall on someone else’s property and injure yourself, you may be eligible for compensation to pay for medical bills and other costs associated with the injury like lost wages and long-term therapy. In New Jersey, your slip and fall lawyer helps determine whether you have a claim worth pursuing and then assists in gathering all the necessary information to strengthen your case. Find the best slip and fall lawyer near me in NJ at RAM Law. Call your slip and fall attorney as soon as possible after your accident to achieve the best outcome.

What Are the Most Common Reasons for a Slip and Fall Lawsuit?

Property owners in New Jersey have a legal obligation to ensure their premises are safe for visitors and to warn them of any potential hazards. Store owners and employees must take prompt action to clean up spills and make sure that floors are dry to prevent accidents. A slip and fall accident can happen due to different conditions, including:

• Failure to remove snow and ice from sidewalks, stairs and parking lots in a timely manner as soon as it’s safe and prudent to do so, even if the owner must hire an outside contractor to clear the walkways
• Slippery floors that are caused by a variety of factors ranging from spills and leaks to recently mopped floors and no warning signs
• Clutter left in aisles or on sidewalks that acts as a tripping hazard for visitors
• Tripping risks created by loose floorboards, uneven carpeting and damaged tiles, as well as uneven pavement and railings and ramps that aren’t sufficiently secured
• Open holes, such as manholes or holes in parking lots, which are particularly dangerous if they aren’t marked with fencing, signs or cones
• Poor lighting in corridors, stairwells and parking garages that obscure obstacles and increase the risk of accidents, and may also lead to lax security

Some falls may be due to distracted walking: not paying attention. Others may occur because of the property owner’s negligence in maintaining their property safely. If you’ve been a victim of such a mishap, seek a reliable lawyer for slip and fall.

RAM Law in New Jersey has experienced professionals who can guide you through the complexities of the process. Their slip and fall accident attorney determines both obvious and less apparent damages and fights diligently to protect your rights and get you the maximum compensation to cover your losses.

What Kind of Injuries Result from a Slip and Fall Accident?

Slip and fall claims, often pursued as premises liability cases, cover any incident where you slip, trip or fall while on someone else’s property and get injured. The owner, manager or any other responsible party is held liable for the accident when the condition of the premises caused the injury.

Slips and trips can be dangerous, especially when they cause a hard fall resulting in catastrophic injury. Victims of such injuries sometimes experience long-term and permanent changes in your quality of life. Injuries that have a deep impact on your life include:

• Sprains and strains. While sprains can occur anywhere on the body, they usually appear in the knees, wrists and ankles when you fall.
• Broken bones and fractures. When you fall, you can break a bone, particularly in the arm, leg, ankle, foot or hip. Broken bones can be very painful and often require a cast, surgery and long-term medical treatment.
• Spinal cord injury. One of the most devastating injuries, spinal cord damage can result in a herniated or bulging disc in your spine and cause chronic back pain, numbness and other symptoms.
• Head and brain injury. When you fall and hit your head, you may suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A TBI can range from mild to severe and carry long-lasting effects on your mental and physical abilities.
• Shoulder injury. Falls can also cause injuries to the shoulders that then lead to back and neck pain, resulting in significant pain and limiting your flexibility and mobility. A shoulder injury can also have long-lasting effects on your hands and arms.
• Nerve damage. A fall can also cause nerve damage, which can result in weakness, numbness or burning sensations in the affected area.

What Should I Do after a Slip and Fall Accident?

If you’ve suffered injuries due to a slip and fall accident, take certain steps to protect your legal rights and ensure that you receive the compensation you need to recover. Your slip and fall lawyer near me in New Jersey recommends:

• Seeking medical attention. Get medical help right away. A doctor’s examination documents your injuries for the insurance companies and provides you with necessary treatment. Getting checked out after a fall is important to a potential liability claim, so do it even if you’re not sure if you had any major injuries.
• Reporting the accident. Fill out an accident report form if it’s available, call the police or medics if appropriate or give written notice to the property owner or occupier of the property about the incident.
• Taking photos. If you’re physically able, take photos and videos of the site where you fell and the surrounding environment as well as any injuries you’ve suffered.
• Keeping a case file. Keep copies of all medical bills and other expenses related to the accident. Keep copies of any letters from insurance companies and write down everything you remember about the accident while it’s fresh in your memory.
• Preserving evidence. Keep the clothing and shoes you wore during the fall. Don’t wash or clean them. Also hang on to other physical evidence such as a broken handrail or fallen debris.
• Avoiding speaking to insurance representatives. Don’t give a recorded statement or sign any documents until you speak with your RAM Law slip and fall accident lawyer.
• Staying off social media. Don’t discuss your accident on social media. Insurance companies may use this against you.

Victims of personal injury accidents have the right to pursue monetary compensation for physical and mental injuries under personal injury law. In New Jersey, slip and fall accidents, bicycle,  truck, motorcycle and car accidents result in the most common types of personal injury claims.

How Can a Slip and Fall Accident Attorney Help Me?

After an accident, insurance companies typically get involved right away. A lawyer for slip and fall injuries handles all communication with insurance companies so you can focus on your recovery and well-being. You shouldn’t have to speak directly with lawyers representing other parties, insurance providers or property owners.

In addition to running interference with insurers, your slip and fall lawyer gathers all the necessary materials and provides you with valuable advice and services. Among the many things that a qualified, experienced attorney can do for you, some of the key activities include:

• Undertaking investigations, such as inspecting the location where the incident occurred, gathering photos and surveillance camera footage, interviewing witnesses and reviewing your medical records
• Consulting with specialists to determine the incident’s cause and impact on your work and life
• Preparing your claim and sending it to the property owner’s insurance company and, if necessary, file a slip and fall lawsuit in the New Jersey court
• Securing a full and fair settlement to ensure that you’re fully compensated for all your current and future losses
• Taking a case to court if the property owner or occupier disputes liability or damages

The slip and fall statute of limitations in New Jersey typically lasts for two years starting from the date of the accident. Failure to act before this deadline means that you may lose your ability to seek compensation for any harm caused by the accident. And if the defendant is a government entity, you may have only a few months to file a claim.

What Types of Compensation Can I Expect from a Successful Lawsuit?

The amount of compensation that you can receive depends on various factors, including the type of accident, the severity of the injuries and your recovery prognosis. Common categories of compensation that your slip and fall lawyer can get for you include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages and income
• Pain and suffering
• Mental and emotional trauma
• Punitive damages
• Permanent disability

To build a strong case, hire a specialized slip and fall attorney who knows how to evaluate the case and collect the required documentation. Without legal representation, you may not understand the full extent of your damages and could end up accepting a low settlement offer from the insurance company. To avoid this, rely on your legal representation from a reputable and experienced personal injury law firm in NJ at RAM Law.

How Does a Slip and Fall Lawyer Near Me Determine Liability?

To win a slip and fall case in New Jersey, you need to demonstrate that the person responsible for the premises where your accident occurred should reasonably be held liable for your injuries. To do so, you need to provide detailed evidence regarding four areas of concern that include:

• Dangerous property conditions. The first thing you and your slip and fall accident attorney must do is establish that a dangerous condition exists or existed on the property where you fell. This could be anything from a wet, slippery floor to broken stairs, uneven pavement or inadequate lighting.
• Prior knowledge of the property owner. Next you need to show that the owner knew or should have known about the hazard. Things that help prove prior knowledge might include witness statements, maintenance records and surveillance footage.
• Reasonable time to address the condition. To hold a property owner or occupier responsible for an injury caused by a dangerous condition, you must prove that they had time to address the issue or warn visitors but failed to do so. This constitutes negligence when they didn’t repair the hazard or display warning signs.
• Injuries experienced. Finally, you need to provide evidence of your injuries that were caused by the owner’s negligence with medical records, doctor’s reports and photographs.

While building your case, your slip and fall lawyer also works to determine who’s responsible for maintaining the area where the accident occurred. Any number of individuals or entities may be held accountable for your injuries, including:

• Private property owners like homeowners and landlords
• Commercial property owners, including businesses and corporations
• Property managers responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of rental properties on behalf of landlords
• Maintenance companies contracted to perform regular maintenance and repairs on the premises
• Tenants of rented properties responsible for maintaining the area around their rental unit
• Custodians responsible for cleaning and maintaining public areas in places like schools, hospitals and government buildings
• State and local governments and municipalities responsible for maintaining public spaces such as sidewalks, parks and roads

Can I Prevent Slip and Fall Accidents?

Preventing slip and fall accidents involves staying on top of maintenance, keeping areas clean and ensuring that clear signs warn the public of potential hazards. Good lighting and slip-resistant flooring also play an important role in preventing falls on private and public property. Encouraging people to wear suitable footwear and providing safety instructions is also beneficial. Regular inspections and risk assessments ensure that possible dangers are identified early. You can do your part to avoid slipping and falling by:

• Taking your time and staying aware of what’s going on when walking
• Adjusting your pace to fit the walking surface and your present tasks
• Making the best use of available light sources
• Carrying a flashlight when entering areas with no lighting

When You Are Injured, Our Slip & Fall Lawyers at Rebenack, Aronow & Mascolo, L.L.P. Will Help

An accident from a slip and fall can be life-changing and saddle you with mounting medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. Our seasoned Personal Injury lawyers at Rebenack, Aronow & Mascolo, L.L.P. can help. Call 732-247-3600 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. We are located in New Brunswick, Somerville, and Freehold, New Jersey, and we serve clients in Middlesex County, Monmouth County, and Somerset County.

Sources:

https://brossfrankel.com/new-jersey-personal-injury-attorney/slip-fall-accidents/

https://www.dsslaw.com/personal-injury-attorney/slip-falls/

https://www.njadvocates.com/premises-liability/slip-and-fall/

https://lependorf.com/slip-and-fall/

https://www.shebell.com/premises-liability/slip-and-fall-accidents

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/new-jersey-slip-and-fall-laws.html

https://cz.law/practice-areas/slip-fall-lawyer/

https://peterdavislaw.com/how-long-do-i-have-to-file-a-slip-and-fall-accident-claim-in-new-jersey/

https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/falls.html