Johnstown Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer

Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere: on a wet floor in a retail store, on an uneven sidewalk, or on a poorly lit staircase. If you have slip and fall injuries from an incident in Johnstown, PA, you may be suffering and unsure how to begin recovering damages.

If that sounds familiar, know that you are not alone. An experienced personal injury attorney at Berger and Green is here to help. We have over 40 years of experience and are happy to get started on your personal injury case right away. Learn more during a free, no-risk consultation with a Johnstown slip and fall injury lawyer.

Damages Victims May Recover in Slip and Fall Accidents

Every case is different, and we cannot estimate what damages you may be able to collect after your slip and fall accident until we know much more about you and your unique circumstances. However, some of the damages we have recovered for Pennsylvania injury clients include:

• Medical costs, such as ambulance rides, (including emergency treatment, hospital stays, medications, rehabilitation, doctor’s visits, and surgeries)
• Lost income, past and present
• Future income if you cannot return to work
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress

Wrongful Death Damages

In some cases where the injuries are severe enough, the victim does not survive. In those instances, it is up to the family to fight for the right to pursue damages for the loss of their loved one. Some of the most common damages families have been able to recover after a wrongful death and survival lawsuit include:

• Medical expenses 
• Funeral expenses
• Lost wages and benefits the victim provided
• Loss of support and protection
• Loss of companionship
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress

Our compassionate slip and fall injury lawyers in Johnstown can help you seek compensation for the full extent of your losses.

Our Slip and Fall Accident and Injury Lawyers Can Help

According to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), injuries suffered in slip and fall accidents have led to millions of emergency room visits and are a major cause of death in the United States. The injuries that result from these accidents can be serious and costly, requiring extensive medical care and rehabilitation. In the worst cases, the victim does not survive the accident.

If you are facing mounting medical bills–or worse, the loss of a loved one–because of a slip and fall accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you have the right to hold that person responsible for their actions.

Here are some ways our attorneys can help:

• Be available to answer questions you have and provide the support and guidance you need during this stressful time
• Gather evidence like medical records, police reports, eyewitness statements, and security camera footage, supporting your claim
• Identify the negligent parties and establish their liability
• Negotiate with attorneys or insurance companies for compensation that can cover your injuries and losses
• Pursue damages at trial if we cannot reach an agreeable settlement outside of court
• Protect your rights and interests, and keep up updated regularly on your case

In other words, our slip and fall accident and injury lawyers serving Johnstown, PA, are here to fight for your right to pursue damages in your claim while you focus your time where it is best spent: recovering from your injuries.

How Long Do You Have to Take Legal Action After a Slip and Fall?

Do not delay in filing your case. Pa. C.S.A. § 5524 generally requires victims to file a lawsuit within two years of the accident to recover damages. If a death occurred because of injuries sustained in the slip and fall accident, you have two years from your loved one’s accident to recover damages they accrued from the time of the accident until death. This is known as a survival action.

A wrongful death action recovers compensation for your family for damages resulting from your loved one’s passing. The two-year clock on filing a wrongful death case starts ticking on the date of the victim’s death. Our Johnstown slip and fall injury attorneys can tell you more about these deadlines and how they may affect your case.

Can You Afford Legal Representation?

The last thing we want is to add to your financial burden. That is why our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we never charge up front or out of pocket for our services. Our payment comes from a percentage of your settlement or verdict. If we do not win compensation for you, we do not collect attorney fees.

Proving Liability After a Slip and Fall Accident

One of the most challenging parts of a slip and fall accident claim can be proving that the owner or manager of the property was negligent and that their negligence caused your accident. Establishing liability in a premises liability case can mean demonstrating that:

• The liable party must have caused the danger and done nothing to correct it;
• The liable party must have known about the danger–even though they did not create it–and did nothing; or
• A reasonable person would have recognized the danger and made changes to prevent the accident.

The above actions or inactions must then have caused your fall and your injuries.

Our Johnstown slip and fall accident attorney must prove what a “reasonable person” should have known and done and establish that negligent or dangerous conditions existed on the property. Examples of trip and fall hazards include:

• Wet or slippery floors
• Spills or puddles
• Cracked or broken floorboards or tiles
• Torn carpeting
• Broken stairs
• Inadequate lighting
• Potholes and cracked pavement/concrete (e.g., such as on parking lots, sidewalks, etc.)
• Poor snow or ice removal

Does a Johnstown Property Owner Owe Every Visitor a Duty of Care?

Property owners owe a duty of care to visitors who are legally on their property, but their duty could change depending on the person’s legal status at the time they were visiting.

• Visitors generally fall into three categories: invitees, licensees, and trespassers. The owner invites invitees who visit a property for a business purpose. For example, shoppers in a store.
• A licensee visits a property for a specific purpose, usually with the owner’s explicit or implied permission. Typically, licensees are house guests. Property owners owe certain duties of care to people in the invitee and licensee categories.
• Visitors on a property without the owner’s permission fall into the trespasser category, which limits the owner’s responsibility to reasonably protect them from harm. However, property owners cannot intentionally harm trespassers or leave a dangerous condition on their property that attracts and exposes them to a preventable risk.

The Johnstown slip and fall accident lawyers at our firm will determine what your legal status was while you were on the property and can offer legal guidance based on your situation’s specific circumstances.

Common Injuries Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents in Johnstown, PA

Many injuries are associated with slip and fall accidents. They include:

Head Injuries

Fall accidents are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While mild TBIs may have only temporary effects like a momentary loss of consciousness or headache, moderate to severe cases can cause a loss of coordination or serious and permanent cognitive or mental symptoms.

Hip Fractures

The CDC also reports that most hip fractures in older adults result from slip and fall accidents. Hip fractures can be serious. Studies indicate that one in three adults over the age of 50 dies within 12 months of a hip fracture. Journal of Internal Medicine.

Shoulder Injuries

Pain can be sudden and severe after a fall onto your shoulder. You may experience bruising, a torn rotator cuff, broken bones, or a dislocation. You may also experience other symptoms like tingling or numbness, and your shoulder may become pale or blue.

Sprains and Fractures

Sprained wrists, twisted knees, or fractured bones are all common injuries after slip and fall accidents.

If you experienced any of these injuries or others after a slip and fall accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you have the right to pursue damages.  A Johnstown slip and fall lawyer from Berger and Green can help.

Reach Out to Berger and Green Today – We Can Help After a Johnstown Slip and Fall Accident

We have over 40 years of experience and are proud of the results we have achieved for our clients. Contact us today to take advantage of our free, no-risk consultations and connect with a Johnstown slip and fall injury lawyer near you.