Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common types of personal injury accidents. If a property owner fails to clean up a spill, does not clear ice or snow from their sidewalks, or leaves tripping hazards in the middle of the floor, people can be seriously hurt. Most property owners underestimate these risks, potentially causing victims hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses, missed work, and pain and suffering.
The Reiff Law Firm’s Doylestown slip and fall attorneys will not stand for this kind of treatment, and we will aggressively pursue your claim to get you the compensation you and your family need. Our attorneys offer free consultations to help you understand how much your case might be worth and what your next steps are to get the compensation you need. To schedule a free legal consultation, call The Reiff Law Firm today at (215) 709-6940.
When Can You Sue for a Slip and Fall?
Many people are hesitant to sue for slip and fall injuries because they are embarrassed that they fell down or upset that they could not avoid the accident. Rest assured that the duty to avoid injuries like this typically rests with the property owner, and that even if the court finds you partly at fault for your own injuries, you may still be entitled to substantial compensation.
When people are injured in slip and fall accidents, it is usually because the property owner was “negligent.” To prove negligence in court for a slip and fall case, you must prove the following four elements:
- The property owner owed you a duty to clean up, repair, or warn you of hidden dangers.
- The property owner failed to repair or warn of the danger and breached that duty.
- This breach of duty caused your injuries.
- The injuries you faced include damages the court can compensate you for.
Your attorney can help prove the duty that the defendant owed you by examining the facts of the case, investigating the danger and the condition of the property where you were injured, and helping you calculate the damages you faced.
You can generally claim compensation for these damages even if you were partly at fault for the accident. Accidents like this are often caused by a perfect storm of disastrous circumstances, most of which are caused by the property owner’s negligence. However, if you were talking on your cell phone, walking in the dark without a light, or drunk at the time of the accident, the defendant may try to avoid blame by blaming you for your own injuries. When you take your case to court, you can still receive damages in Pennsylvania even if you were as high as 50% at fault for the accident. Your damages may be reduced to cover your percentage of the blame, but you can still receive substantial compensation to help you with your injuries.
Damages for Slip and Fall Lawsuits in Pennsylvania
The financial compensation that you seek after a serious injury is known, collectively, as “damages.” There are two main types of damages: economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages are used to pay you back for financial expenses you faced. Things like medical expenses you paid and lost wages from missed work are some of the most common economic damages. You may also be entitled to noneconomic damages for intangible harms like the pain and suffering you face.
The damages you are entitled to can cover a wide range of harms and can include any damages you suffer as a consequence of the injury. That means that the cost of hiring child care while you are in the hospital, the cost of hiring transportation if your injuries keep you from driving, and other related damages can all be claimed as part of a lawsuit.
In many cases, the property owner may have homeowners insurance (for a private homeowner) or liability insurance (for a business owner or corporate property owner). The insurance company may attempt to contact you with a settlement offer to cover your medical expenses and lost wages. These damages are often reduced to cover only a portion of the damages you suffered, and they usually fail to include coverage for pain and suffering and other damages you might need.
Always talk to an attorney about your case to understand what your case is worth before accepting any payments from the insurance company or the at-fault property owner. Accepting any money from them may be considered a “settlement,” which blocks you from being able to take your case to court. However, taking your case to court may be the only option to receive full compensation. Talk to a lawyer for more information.
Call for a Free Legal Consultation on Your Slip and Fall Case
If you were injured in a slip and fall or your spouse, parent, or child was seriously injured in a slip and fall, contact our law offices today. The Reiff Law Firm’s Doylestown slip and fall injury lawyers represent victims of slip and fall accidents and other personal injury cases and fight to get them the compensation they need for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To schedule a free legal consultation on your potential case, contact our law offices today at (215) 709-6940.
