How Can a Slip and Fall Lawyer Help Me?
A slip/trip and fall can cause serious bodily injuries especially as we get older. Neglected ice and snow, stairwells with poor or broken lighting, wet floors and clutter are just some of the ways a slip/trip and fall can occur.
Simply slipping and falling is not enough to prove liability against a potentially culpable property owner, manager, or other occupant. A plaintiff seeking to recover damages caused by a slip/trip and fall must be able to prove that the defendant either created the condition, had actual knowledge of the condition, or had constructive knowledge of the condition meaning that he or she should have known of the hazard. A competent slip and fall attorney is essential to helping you satisfy this burden.
The statute of limitations on a slip and fall case in New Jersey is usually 2 years, however, if you are asserting a claim against a public entity, you are required to provide Tort Claims notice to any potentially liable public entity within 90 days of the incident. This means that you must act quickly to ensure the proper parties are notified otherwise your claim may be forever barred.
What Should I Do in the Event of a Slip and Fall?
If you or someone you know has been involved in a slip and fall, it is important to follow certain steps to ensure you obtain a full recovery:
- Get Medical Treatment Immediately – Make sure you seek treatment from a medical professional as soon as possible. A doctor’s examination will document that your injury was the result of a slip and fall. Waiting to seek treatment can be extremely detrimental to your case as a defendant will seek to attribute your injuries to an unrelated incident.
- Report Your Slip and Fall – Make sure to fill out an incident report or provide some other form of notice to the owner/occupier of the premises where the incident occurred. Ask for a copy of any report.
- Take Photos of the Scene and Your Injuries – It is extremely helpful to your case if you get photos of the site of the incident as well as photos of your injuries. This includes photos of any wounds, bruises, surgery, stitches caused by the incident.
- Keep the Evidence – If at all possible, save the item that caused you to fall. If it is something that will degrade over time, like a piece of fruit, make sure to bag it and keep it frozen. You should also safeguard any clothes and shoes that you were wearing at the time of the fall.
- Witnesses – If anyone witnessed the incident, you should obtain their name, address and phone number.
- Maintain a Case File – Keep a record of all your medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, lost earnings, and EOBs related to your treatment following the incident.
- Contact a Slip and Fall Lawyer.
- Do Not Give a Statement to the Insurance Company – Speak to a lawyer first!
What Craig Rothenberg Can Do for You
At the Law Office of Craig Rothenberg, we are experienced in slip and fall cases. We will fully investigate the incident, consult with medical and accident reconstruction experts, interview witnesses, gather photos, and answer any questions you might have about the process. Contact us so we can begin discussing your case today.