Slip and fall accidents are far more serious than people are led to believe. In many cases, people end up with severe injuries and expensive medical bills because someone else failed to maintain their property properly.
Slip and fall accidents may happen almost anywhere. People have been known to slip and fall on public property, private property, in retail stores, and more. When such an accident happens, the property owner may be held liable in a premises liability lawsuit. In this kind of lawsuit, the defendant is liable because they failed to maintain their property and keep it safe for others. You can recover damages for medical bills, pain, suffering, humiliation, and other expenses related to the accident. You should have as much evidence as you can gather, including evidence from the accident scene, witness testimony, medical records, and anything else necessary for your case.
People may experience serious brain damage or even spinal cord injuries that affect them for life. Our Newark, NJ slip and fall accident lawyers can help you get compensation to fund your recovery. For a free case evaluation, call Legal Care New Jersey at (732) 838-9769.
How and Where Slip and Fall Accidents Happen in Newark, NJ
A slip and fall can happen almost anywhere. While some are lucky enough to escape the ordeal with nothing more than a bruised ego, many others are less fortunate. Our Newark, NJ slip and fall accident lawyers can help you explore legal options regardless of where your accident happened.
Many of these accidents happen on private property, like in someone’s home or on the steps outside their house. Wet, slippery, or icy surfaces are common culprits in slip and fall accidents. Uneven floors and stairs also play a significant role.
Businesses and stores where customers are expected to enter without permission must ensure the premises are safe. Otherwise, customers might slip and fall. Wet floors from spills that were not cleaned up are a major issue in slip and fall cases, especially where no warning signs were placed around the spill. Numerous other potential hazards include broken windows, tripping hazards, rickety chairs or seats, and more.
Public property might also pose a serious slip and fall risk. Public property includes parks, beaches, boardwalks, sidewalks, and government buildings. These areas might suffer from the same risks and hazards mentioned earlier, but instead, the city, town, or state where the accident happened is liable.
Premises Liability Lawsuits for Newark, NJ Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents fall under an area of law known as premises liability. Under the law, property owners can be held liable for a slip and fall accident if the accident happened because of a hazard or dangerous condition on the property. The liable party depends on who owns the property and the duty of care they owe to the plaintiff. Our Newark, NJ slip and fall accident lawyers can help you determine who should be held liable in your case.
Invited Guests
Property owners are liable if they fail to properly maintain the property or remove hazards. Property owners owe a legal obligation to guests to make the property safe for them. Generally, property owners only owe a duty of care to guests explicitly invited onto the property or guests they can reasonably expect to show up.
For example, a social guest is someone who is explicitly invited onto someone’s property. If a neighbor invited you over for coffee, they would owe you a duty of care to remove or repair any known hazards on their property and make reasonable inspections for unknown hazards.
Uninvited Guests
The same duty is owed to guests who are not directly invited but can be reasonably expected. A mail carrier is not invited onto someone’s property but can be expected, so the area around your mailbox or front door should be made safe for them. Similarly, customers at a business do not need permission to enter the premises, and business owners should make the property safe for all customers they can reasonably expect.
Trespassers
There is no duty owed to unknown trespassers. For example, if a burglar enters someone’s home and slips on their front step, severely injuring themselves, the property owner would not be liable. However, Trespassers that can be reasonably expected or are known are owed a duty of care. One example of known trespassers is kids whom a property owner knows to take a shortcut through their property without permission. Although the kids are trespassing, the property owners should still make the area safe.
Injuries and Recoverable Damages in Slip and Fall Accidents in Newark, NJ
Do not underestimate the value of your damages in a slip and fall accident. People quickly dismiss these injuries as minor or insignificant, but this could not be further from the truth. Accident victims injured in slip and falls may experience brain damage, head trauma, neck and spinal injuries, back injuries, broken bones, dislocated joints, and more.
You can and should claim your medical bills as part of your damages. Unfortunately, medical treatment is very expensive, and affording care for your injuries is difficult for many and impossible for some. It is crucial that you track all your medical expenses with the help of our Newark, NJ slip and fall accident lawyers. This way, we can accurately calculate your damages.
Slip and fall accident victims often lose precious income because they cannot physically return to work. Not only can you claim the income you have already lost, but you can also claim lost future income if you cannot return to work for the foreseeable future.
Pain and suffering are subjective damages that we can help you assess. After being severely injured, plaintiffs may experience intense physical pain and emotional trauma. Not only that but the humiliation of the accident should also be considered.
Call Our Newark, NJ Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers for Help Now
After a slip and fall accident, you may need financial assistance when dealing with your numerous expenses. The person liable for your injuries should be made to pay for your damages. Call Legal Care New Jersey at (732) 838-9769 for a free case assessment.
