Who Pays for My Injuries After a Slip and Fall Accident?

Financial liability for a slip and fall rests with those responsible for the negligent property conditions that caused your injury. If your slip, trip, and fall was not your fault, you could recover medical expenses, lost income, and compensation for your pain and suffering. Here, a Pittsburgh slip-and-fall accident lawyer will cover who pays for your injuries after a slip and fall accident and how an attorney can lead your case for damages. 

Slip and Fall Accident Liability

Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere – in a private residence, restaurant, grocery store, movie theater, nightclub, or another business. Wherever your fall occurred, the property’s owner or manager had a legal duty to make sure the premises were reasonably safe and hazard-free. If they did not carry out this duty, they might have to pay for your slip and fall accident injuries.  

How Can You Prove Another Party Is Financially Responsible?

To recover payment for your injuries, you must prove the property’s owner or manager knew or should have known about the hazard that caused your slip and fall. You also must show how they failed to remedy it. You must then prove their negligence caused your injuries and financial damages. 

Negligent property conditions that can lead to a slip, trip, or fall include:

• Torn or ripped carpeting
• Cracked or broken floorboards or tiles
• Cracked or broken sidewalks
• Potholes
• Obstructed walkways
• Lack of lighting
• Broken or missing hand railings
• Broken stairs
• Spills or wet surfaces
• Negligent snow or ice removal or the failure to remove
• Failure to warn patrons of known hazards (like wet floors or areas under construction)

You can use the following evidence to build your premises liability case and prove another party is at fault for your injuries and damages:

• Official accident reports (if your fall occurred at a business, tell the owner or manager immediately and ask for a copy of the incident report)
• Surveillance video footage of the fall
• Eyewitness statements
• Photographs of the accident scene and the hazard that caused your slip and fall
• Premises liability expert reports
• Medical records
• Evidence of your financial losses, such as bills, pay stubs, and receipts 

What Compensation Can You Recover for a Slip and Fall Accident?

You can seek compensation for a slip and fall accident via a claim against the property owner’s insurance policy or with a premises liability lawsuit. In general, you can seek the following compensation for personal injuries from a slip and fall accident:

• Medical expenses. You can recover all current and future medical bills for necessary treatment resulting from your slip and fall accident. Medical damages may include emergency transportation and services, surgeries, physical therapy and rehabilitation, mobility aids, prescription medications, and extended nursing. 
• Lost income. You can recoup lost income from the time you couldn’t work due to your injury. If you suffered a permanent or disabling injury that forces you to change jobs, work fewer hours, or quit working, you may be able to recover compensation for your lost earning capacity. 
• Personal property damage. If your cell phone, laptop, smartwatch, or other items were damaged or destroyed during your accident, you can seek the cost of repairs or replacements. 
• Pain, suffering, and inconvenience. You can seek monetary awards for severe and chronic physical pain, scarring, disfigurement, mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment in hobbies and activities, and impaired quality of life. 
• Wrongful death. Slip and fall injuries can be fatal, especially for older adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that falls were the leading cause of injury death for Americans aged 65 and older in 2020. If you lost a loved one to a fatal fall injury, you could recover compensation on behalf of their estate and survivors, including medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, and loss of the deceased’s support and services. 

How Long Do You Have to Pursue a Slip and Fall Accident Case?

You must follow the statute of limitations deadline if you want to pursue damages in a negligence case. In Pennsylvania, you have two years from when a slip and fall injury occurred to file a personal injury lawsuit, according to Pa. C.S.A. § 5524. If you do not file your case by the deadline, the court will likely dismiss your lawsuit. 

You must be mindful of this time limit, even if you expect your case to settle outside court. If the statute expires and you can no longer take legal action, it could reduce your bargaining power and result in an underpaid or denied insurance claim. 

Do You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer to Pursue a Slip and Fall Case?

You can pursue a slip and fall claim or lawsuit on your own without an attorney. However, working with a lawyer with our firm can build and take action so that you can focus on your injuries or caring for your hurt loved one. We can:

• Investigate your accident and determine who should pay for your slip and fall accident injuries and damages
• Identify your losses and assess your case’s value
• Prepare and file your insurance claim or lawsuit and handle all related paperwork
• Track and manages case deadlines
• Communicate with involved parties on your behalf
• Negotiate for the maximum compensation possible
• Represent you during a civil trial if necessary

Can You Afford a Slip and Fall Accident Attorney?

Many personal injury lawyers, including those at our firm, take cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay us nothing upfront or out of pocket to represent you. Instead, our fees come from a percentage of your settlement or verdict. If we do not win your case, you owe us nothing. In this way, we make our services affordable and accessible to all those seeking economic justice. 

Call Us About Your Slip and Fall Accident Injuries

Contact Berger and Green today for a free consultation. A team member can answer your questions and tell you more about how a slip and fall accident lawyer with our firm can help you seek the personal injury awards you need and deserve. We will fight to ensure the liable party pays for your slip and fall accident injuries, not you or your family.