Slip and Fall Lawyers Near Pennington, NJ

Our Pennington slip and fall attorneys at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. can help you hold a negligent property owner accountable for your injuries. Over the last four decades, we have recovered more than $1 billion in compensation for our deserving clients. Our legal team includes more than 30 lawyers and dozens of support staff, giving us the firepower to tackle even the toughest cases. And because we do not charge any fees unless we secure compensation, you do not have to worry about the expense of our services.

Slip and fall accidents can be devastating. While trauma to the head or back can result in a lifetime of medical complications, even a seemingly minor fall can be expensive to treat and make it impossible to earn a living. If you slipped and fell because of a property owner’s negligence, they could be liable for the harm you’ve suffered. And while no amount of money can undo the effects, it can help you rebuild your life and plan for the future.

You deserve compensation for injuries that were someone else’s fault. Let the professionals at our Pennington personal injury law firm help you demand it. Contact us today for a free consultation with a Pennington slip and fall attorney.

The Most Common Types of Slip and Fall Accidents in Pennington

The term “slip and fall” is broad and can describe many types of accidents, which can be categorized based on the action that brought the fall. This include falls caused by:

• Slipping – A lack of traction between the foot and the ground causes a slip. Examples include unattended spills, wet floors from tracked-in rain or snow, and loose debris that slides away when stepped on.
• Tripping – Larger hazards and uneven surfaces can cause someone to stumble and fall. Trip-and-falls are often caused by cluttered walkways, crumbling pavement, high door jambs, and loose electrical wires.
• Misstepping – Small changes in walkway levels can cause someone to step wrong, lose balance, and fall. Poorly maintained walkways, missing stair steps, and uneven surfaces can lead to step-and-falls.

Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Usually Happen?

Slip and fall accidents can and do happen almost anywhere. Some of the most common locations where New Jersey slip and fall accidents occur include:

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 10.5 million people nationwide went to the hospital for fall injuries in one recent year.

Some of the most common causes of these slip-and-fall accidents in Pennington include:

• Spills – Anything that spills onto the floor can cause someone to lose their balance and fall. Promptly cleaning up spilled water, drinks, cleaning products, and other liquids is crucial to preventing slip and fall accidents.
• Poorly maintained sidewalks or other pathways – Broken, uneven sidewalks or other pathways on a property can cause someone to slip and fall, leading to significant injuries.
• Loose objects – Any clutter on the floor can cause someone to fall if they step on or trip over it. Objects that can cause a slip and fall accident include small boxes, debris, and children’s toys.
• Stray electrical cords – Loose electrical cords running across walkways commonly cause falls. Placing electrical cords next to walls or covering them with anti-slip guards is crucial to preventing accidents.
• Poorly maintained stairways – Spilled liquids or clutter on a stairway can cause someone to lose their balance and fall. Slip and fall accidents in stairways are also more likely if handrails are not adequately maintained.
• Swimming pools – The wet surfaces along the edges of swimming pools are a slipping hazard, especially if the pool is crowded or children are horseplaying nearby.
• Sloped walkways without proper handrails – Steep walkways can cause slip and fall accidents if visitors do not have anything to grab onto to keep their balance. Sloped walkways are particularly dangerous in poor weather conditions.
• Construction site hazards – Spilled chemicals, open pits, loose debris, and other dangers at construction sites can cause passersby to fall and become injured.
• Bad weather – Rain, snow, ice, and slush can make surfaces slippery and cause falls. Property owners should place non-slip rugs near entrances and mop up water in stairwells or hallways that could cause an accident.

What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident in Pennington, NJ

After slipping and falling in Pennington, you can protect your rights and improve your chances of securing compensation by taking the following steps:

• Report the accident to the property owner – Find the property owner or a manager and let them know what happened. Have them take down your account in writing to ensure there is a record of the incident. If your injuries prevent you from making the accident report yourself, ask a friend, family member, or bystander to notify the property owner.
• Document the accident – Use your phone to take pictures of the spot where you fell, any visible hazards in the area, and any injuries you sustained. If you see anyone who may have witnessed the accident, ask them for their name and contact information. Look for nearby surveillance cameras, as security footage of the accident could help your case. Keep the clothes and shoes you were wearing at the time of the accid
• See a doctor – Seek medical attention after a slip and fall accident, even if you feel fine. Head trauma in particular can be easy to miss at first but prove fatal if untreated. Early treatment is crucial to minimizing the effects of the accident. Save any bills and receipts from your treatment.
• Write down what happened – Once you have reported the accident and seen a doctor, write down everything you can remember about the accident. Be as thorough as possible since you may need to refer to these notes later.
• Do not speak to any insurance companies – There is a good chance the property owner’s insurance provider will contact you and ask for a statement or offer a quick settlement. If this happens, tell the insurer that you have hired a lawyer and leave it at that. Do not say anything else, or you might jeopardize your case.
• Hire a Pennington slip and fall accident lawyer – An attorney can protect your rights after a slip and fall accident and help you recover compensation for your injuries. The sooner you meet with a slip and fall lawyer, the more they can do with your case.

When Is a Property Owner Liable for My Injuries?

In New Jersey, a property owner’s duty toward a visitor depends on why the visitor is on their property. The state recognizes three categories of visitors:

• Invitees – An invitee is anyone legally on someone’s property for the owner’s business purposes. Property owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees. They must regularly inspect the property for hazards, fix any hazards promptly, and warn invitees about known dangers. A property owner may be liable for a slip and fall if they knew or reasonably should have known about the hazard that caused the accident.
• Licensees – Anyone legally on someone’s property for their own purposes is a licensee. Property owners owe a high duty of care to licensees and must warn them of potential hazards, though that duty is not as high as it is for invitees. Property owners may be liable for slip and falls caused by known dangers. However, they are usually not liable for accidents caused by unknown hazards.
• Trespassers – A trespasser is on someone’s property illegally. The only duties property owners owe trespassers are to not intentionally or recklessly injure them and to warn about “artificial conditions” that can cause serious harm.

What Do I Have to Prove for a Slip and Fall Claim?

Proving a property owner is liable for a slip and fall accident that happened when you were an invitee is distinctly different from one that happened when you were a licensee or trespasser.

However, you will have to prove the following in a slip and fall lawsuit:

• There was a dangerous property condition.
• The property owner or manager knew or reasonably should have known that the dangerous condition existed.
• The owner had enough time to address the dangerous condition or warn visitors about any risks, but did not do it.
• You suffered injuries as a result of this negligence.

A Pennington slip and fall lawyer can look at your case and tell you more about what you need to prove to recover compensation.

Contact a Pennington Slip and Fall Lawyer Today

If a negligent property owner caused you to slip and fall on their premises, they could owe you compensation for the harm you suffered. The team at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. is prepared to enforce your rights and fight aggressively for fair compensation. Call us today or visit our contact page for a free consultation with a Pennington slip and fall lawyer.