(267) 682-8918
Philadelphia Slip and Fall Lawyer
Helping Injured Parties Recover Compensation After Slip and Fall Accidents
Property owners have a duty to make their premises safe for visitors, customers, and employees. This duty involves being aware of any potentially dangerous condition and alerting visitors and employees of its hazards. If you or a loved one have suffered severe injuries on the premises of another party or entity, it may be possible to hold negligent property owners and managers accountable.
Slip and fall incidents occur when individuals trip or slip on something, causing them to suddenly lose their balance and fall to the ground. A slip and fall incident may occur at a place of work, in the driveway, in a parking lot, on a stairway, on the sidewalk, in the elevator, or anywhere else people commonly walk. In some slip and fall cases, the causes of the accident may not be readily apparent. In others, the cause behind the accident may be as clear as day, such as slipping on ice on a sidewalk. However, as additional factors may be involved, it is necessary to retain the representation of slip and fall lawyers when trying to prove a property owner’s negligence in a personal injury claim.
Lassiter & Associates is a Philadelphia personal injury law firm with a comprehensive understanding of premises liability law and personal injury cases. Regardless of how the fall accident occurred, if you suffered serious injuries, you may have the makings of a successful slip and fall lawsuit. We would be interested in speaking to you about your slip and fall case and the prospect of seeking fair compensation for your pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and more.
To learn more about our legal services and how a slip-and-fall attorney can assist you during this difficult time, please contact our Philadelphia law firm to schedule your free initial consultation today.
What Should You Do After a Slip and Fall Accident?
Immediately following a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, it is important that you seek medical attention. Additionally, you should inform the police about the slip and fall incident as soon as possible. Even if you believe your injuries to be minor, it is still important that you seek medical treatment without delay. Not only could certain injuries manifest later, but failure to obtain professional medical care could result in your fall lawsuit being devalued or dismissed.
While awaiting the police and paramedics to arrive, speak to anyone who potentially witnessed the slip and fall incident and obtain their contact information while asking if they are willing to record a statement on your phone. Additionally, take photos and videos of the unsafe or defective condition that caused your fall. Also, take photos of the surrounding area of the accident scene, any potential property damage, and your injuries. All this evidence will be valuable to your slip-and-fall injury attorney.
Whether the slip and fall accident occurred at work, on the sidewalk, in a parking lot, or at the grocery store, you must report the accident to the property owner immediately. If your slip and fall incident occurred at a place of business, you usually have to file an official accident report with a business owner.
Obtain copies of the police report and ambulance report. Also, obtain copies of past and present medical records that detail your personal injury.
Do not admit any fault to anyone, and do not attempt to dismiss the severity of a serious injury. Additionally, do not talk about your accident on social media. Doing so could jeopardize your personal injury lawsuit.
It is often necessary to work with experienced attorneys to help hold a negligent property owner accountable for their actions or inactions. Duane Lassiter is the head attorney and founder of Lassiter & Associates. He has over two decades of experience advocating for his clients’ rights. To discuss personal injury cases and the legal services of a personal injury attorney, please contact our law firm to schedule your free case review today.
What Are Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents?
Slip and fall accidents can be caused by several different factors in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Slip and fall accidents caused by property owner negligence often include the following:
- Wet surfaces
- Uneven surfaces
- Lack of warning signs
- Inadequate lighting
- Negligent or improper maintenance
- Hazardous weather conditions like snow, rain, or ice
- Obstacles and clutter left in walkways
- Lack of handrails or guardrails
- Defective flooring materials
- Improper supervision and inadequate training
- Poorly designed and constructed spaces
- Failure to properly clean environments
In most slip-and-fall cases where hazardous conditions directly result in an accident, the property owner or manager is held liable. However, pursuing a slip-and-fall lawsuit can be complicated, and you are encouraged to retain the legal representation of an experienced personal injury attorney. Please contact our legal team to discuss your case today.
Where Do Most Slip and Fall Accidents Occur?
Unsafe or defective conditions can lead to a slip and fall injury practically anywhere, whether it be on private property, property owned by the government, or a commercial business. Under Pennsylvania premises liability laws, property owners must exercise reasonable standards of care to prevent serious injuries from befalling visitors and employees.
A slip-and-fall accident typically occurs at the following locations:
- Private homes
- Retail stores
- Markets and grocery stores
- Cities, state, or publicly owned property
- Gyms and health clubs
- Shopping malls
- Apartment buildings and hotels
- Roadways and parking lots
- Sidewalks
- Construction sites
- Pharmacies
Experienced personal injury lawyers, such as attorney Duane Lassiter, have the knowledge and skill necessary to help you recover money and seek justice following a slip and fall accident. If you are a fall victim, please contact our law firm to schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation.
What Are Common Slip and Fall Injuries?
Common injuries from slip and fall accidents include the following:
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head injuries
- Emotional distress and post-traumatic stress disorder
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Facial and dental injuries
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Soft tissue injuries
- Deep cuts and lacerations
- Scarring
- Paralysis
- Back and neck injuries
- Loss of hearing or vision
- Wrongful death
Most personal injury lawyers are familiar with the complexities of premises liability claims and slip-and-fall accidents. Experienced attorney Duane Lassiter would be proud to represent your interests in pursuing financial recovery. Please contact our Philadelphia law office today.
Who Can Be Held Responsible in Your Personal Injury Case?
Property owners have a duty to maintain safe premises and keep those premises free from dangerous conditions that may befall victims setting foot on their property.
Those who may be held liable in a slip and fall personal injury lawsuit include the following:
- Business owners
- Government agencies
- Homeowners
- Landlords
- Location managers
- Security subcontractors
Property owners must remove dangerous conditions on their properties to safeguard their visitors, guests, and employees. If the dangerous condition cannot be readily removed, a warning, such as a warning sign for slippery floors, must be presented.
Commercial property owners have a higher duty of care than single-family residential property owners.
How to Establish Liability in Slip and Fall Cases?
Several factors must be satisfied to file a personal injury lawsuit against liable parties successfully. Firstly, there must be an identifiable dangerous or defective condition. Secondly, you must show that the property owners were aware or should have been aware of the dangerous conditions. Finally, you and your slip and fall attorneys must establish a direct link between the dangerous condition and the injuries sustained in the accident.
Your personal injury attorney will work tirelessly to show that it was the property owner’s negligence that led to the cause of your injuries. Our legal team has extensive experience in Pennsylvania personal injury law, and we can help you determine whether you have a valid claim against a property owner for a slip and fall accident.
To learn more about the legal process and how we may be of assistance to you during this difficult time, please contact us to schedule your free initial consultation today.
How to File a Personal Injury Claim with the Insurance Company?
After a slip and fall accident on commercial property, you must file a claim with the business’s insurance provider. The insurance company then investigates the case and determines whether they will pay for lost wages, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and more.
It’s fairly common for insurance companies to deny or devalue claims unless the slip and fall victim is able to prove that negligence caused the accident. It is strongly encouraged that fall victims and their families retain professional legal counsel from experienced attorneys when filing insurance claims.
What Can You Recover in a Fair Settlement?
The value of your claim will be determined by several different factors, including the severity of your injuries, the cost of medical care or earning capacity, and the negligence of the at-fault parties. With a successful lawsuit, it is possible to recover both economic and non-economic damages from the at-fault party.
Potential economic and non-economic damages you may recover include the following:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and lost income earning capacity
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Lost companionship or consortium
- Wrongful death
How Long Do You Have to File a Slip and Fall Claim in Philadelphia, PA?
There is a statute of limitations for filing a slip and fall claim. Typically, Pennsylvania slip-and-fall accident victims have two years from the date of the incident to file a lawsuit. However, claims against government entities must be submitted to the governmental entity within six months of the accident.
If you fail to file a lawsuit or notify the governmental entity within the allotted time window, you could be forever barred from recovering compensation for your injuries.
Do not delay in contacting an experienced attorney to discuss your slip and fall accident case today.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Fight for Your Legal Rights After a Slip and Fall Accident?
If another person’s negligence has hurt you, you should not be the party responsible for paying off medical bills or worrying about lost wages and other expenses. Hiring a personal injury attorney can help you obtain the evidence necessary to win your case and get the compensation you rightly deserve.
Personal injury lawyer Duane Lassiter can help you prepare your slip and fall accident claim, negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company, and even represent your case in court should your case go to trial.
Schedule your risk-free case review today.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Philadelphia Personal Injury Law Firm to Discuss Your Slip and Fall Case Today
The legal team of Lassiter & Associates has extensive experience representing clients in personal injury and slip-and-fall cases. If you or a loved one have been hurt in a slip and fall incident, please contact our law firm to discuss your case in a free consultation.
As your legal representation, attorney Duane Lassiter will work tirelessly and aggressively to fight for your rights in the pursuit of full and fair compensation. Meanwhile, the attorney and his legal staff will keep you informed and educated on the particulars of your case so that you are never left unprepared for new developments.
To speak with the attorney and his legal team about your case, please contact us to schedule your free initial consultation today. You may reach us at 267-682-8918.