South Jersey Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer

Hire an Experienced South Jersey Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer Who Will Fight For You and Your Family

Slip and fall accidents often lead to serious injuries. Falls lead to millions of emergency room visits each year in the United States. The injuries related to falls can be life-altering and even fatal. Falls frequently take place because of dangerous circumstances like slippery floors or broken floor tiles. Suppose another person or company is responsible for taking care of that piece of property. In that case, the injured person might be able to recover compensation that will help them cover many of the costs related to their injury. After a slip and fall, you should speak to an experienced South Jersey slip and fall accident lawyer about your options for recovering damages. 

Contact the trusted personal injury attorneys at Gelman Law, LLC, today for an evaluation of your slip and fall accident claim. 

Common Slip and Fall Accident Causes 

There are endless potential causes of dangerous conditions that could lead to a slip and fall. However, certain conditions are more likely to cause these types of accidents. 

Common causes of slip and falls include: 

• Ice on outdoor pavement
• Wet and slick floors
• Poorly lit walkways
• Damaged floor tiles or flooring
• Lack of handrails
• Broken handrails
• Debris on the floor or a walkway
• Loose or broken stairs
• Ripped or loose carpets

In some cases, certain hazardous conditions might not be the fault of the property owner. However, even in those cases, the owner should take steps to protect individuals on their property. For instance, the owner should repair the damage or provide adequate warnings if they cannot yet remedy the issue. 

Injuries Associated with Slip and Falls

Certain injuries often take place because of slip and fall accidents. You have likely fallen a few times in your life and suffered from minor bruises or cuts. However, if your injuries are more serious, you should contact an experienced South Jersey slip and fall accident lawyer to find out whether you have a valid claim for damages. 

Some injuries victims frequently experience in slip and fall accidents include:

• Broken or fractured bones
• Hip fractures
• Head trauma and brain injuries
• Back, neck, and spinal cord injuries
• Wrist and forearm injuries
• Knee injuries

Sometimes soft tissue injuries, like sprains or strains, can take a long time to heal and require substantial medical care. For instance, if you suffer one of these injuries, you may need to attend physical therapy for many months. Even in these less traumatic cases, the damages can be expensive. When the injuries impact your brain or spinal cord, the effects can last indefinitely and completely alter your lifestyle. 

The Use of the Property in a Slip and Fall Claim

When it comes to premises liability cases, different guests receive different levels of protection under the law. There are three different categories of property visitors. 

1. If you were on a business or public property, such as a shop, hotel, or public library, you are an “invitee”, and the owner or occupier will owe you the highest level of protection. The individual in charge of caring for these properties must inspect the premises and ensure that it is safe. 

2. If you visit a friend or attend a party, the law considers you a “licensee.” In such cases, the owner or occupier must warn you if there are dangerous conditions on the property they cannot yet fix. 

3. The third category applies to trespassers. Trespassers should not be on a piece of property, but the occupier still owes them a duty. In these cases, the occupier cannot create hazardous conditions intended to cause you harm. 

Proving Negligence in New Jersey Slip and Fall Accident Claims

Proving negligence is a necessary step in recovering compensation in a slip and fall accident case. In the case of business property, you may be able to recover damages if you can prove that:

• There was a dangerous condition on the property
• The owner either knew or should have known about the danger
• The owner neglected to provide a warning about the hazard
• The owner failed to repair the dangerous condition in a reasonable amount of time
• You sustained injuries and damages because of the conditions

One example of a scenario where a business owner would have liability for your injuries might include a hotel that neglected to replace light bulbs leaving you to walk down steep stairs in the dark. If the light bulb only went out moments before you arrived, the owner may argue that they did not know about the condition or that they did not have time to repair or warn you about the dangers. However, if the conditions lasted for several hours or days, you may be able to show liability. 

Of course, slippery spills in shops are a classic example of slip and fall accident cases. Again, if you fell on a spill that took place only seconds before your accident, the owner may not be liable. However, if the owner or manager knew or should have known about the spill, for instance, if it had been there for an extended period of time, you may be able to hold that owner liable. 

Contact a Trusted South Jersey Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer at Gelman Law, LLC Today for a Free Consultation

If you suffered injuries in a premises liability case, a South Jersey slip and fall accident lawyer can evaluate your claim. You might be able to collect damages that will compensate you for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and possibly other losses he suffered because of the incident. 

Gelman Law, LLCs experienced attorneys are ready to speak to you about your case. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you and your family. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Slip and Fall Accident Claims in New Jersey

If you sustained injuries in a slip and fall accident, you might have some questions about filing a claim.