- Get Compensation With the help of a PA Slip and Fall Lawyer
- Who Can Victims Hold Liable for a Slip and Fall Accident Caused by Ice or Snow?
- Berger and Green Can Help You Pursue a Payout in Your Pittsburgh Slip and Fall Case
- Recoverable Damages in a Slip and Fall Accident Due to Snow and Icy Conditions
- There Are Deadlines on How Quickly You Must Take Legal Action in a Pennsylvania Slip and Fall Case
- Talk to a Pittsburgh Slip and Fall Accident Attorney
Get Compensation With the help of a PA Slip and Fall Lawyer
When the outside conditions become icy and wet, trying to avoid a fall can be quite difficult. Poor or skipped maintenance of sidewalks, parking lots and roads can quickly become dangerous for pedestrians. Falls are one of the most common injury claims pursued during the winter months. These types of accidents can lead to serious injuries which means costly medical bills and time away from work.
If you or someone you know suffered injuries in a slip and fall accidents due to snow and icy conditions in Pennsylvania, contact the personal injury attorneys at Berger and Green today. We can review your case during a free, no-obligation consultation. Call or text 412-661-1400 to reach a member of our team.
Who Can Victims Hold Liable for a Slip and Fall Accident Caused by Ice or Snow?
Although it is a property owner’s responsibility to maintain their premises, sometimes there is no liability when someone falls when there are snow and icy conditions in the community. The only time we can pursue a liability case against the property owner is if the ice and snow have been present for so long that there are now hills and ridges.
The Hills and Ridges Doctrine, commonly applied in Pennsylvania law, covers the paved areas where people often travel, such as sidewalks. For an individual to recover damages, the victim must show that ridges or elevations, rather than just the slippery conditions, caused a fall.
When the Berger and Green team reviews your case, we can help you understand if the property owner acted negligently and explain the type of evidence, we will need to uncover to prove your case. Our case evaluations are always free, so you have nothing to lose by calling us to discuss your case today.
Berger and Green Can Help You Pursue a Payout in Your Pittsburgh Slip and Fall Case
For more than 40 years, attorney Laurence B. Green has helped Pennsylvania accident victims fight for the financial recovery they deserve after a negligence accident. He, along with the rest of the Berger and Green team, know what it takes to prove a case that revolves around a slip and fall accident case due to snow and icy conditions.
We can answer your questions and address your concerns and explain your right to compensation in terms you understand. We will take immediate steps to collect the evidence necessary to prove negligence and liability. As a part of our investigation, we will:
- Request copies of any accident reports filed, including police reports
- Interview witnesses of your fall
- Look at the video of the accident, if available
- Survey the scene and take photographs
- Analyze any photos taken of the scene immediately before or after your fall
- Consider the weather patterns before your accident
We will also need to document your expenses and losses related to your snow and ice fall. This may require us to:
- Request a copy of your relevant medical records
- Work with a medical expert to understand your injuries, prognosis, and ongoing care needs
- Collect bills, receipts, and other proof of your expenses
- Document your time away from work
Once we have a strong case showing how the property owner’s careless or reckless actions caused your slip and fall injuries, we can approach them for settlement negotiations or file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf.
If your fall caused you to suffer long-term or permanent injuries and now you cannot work and earn a living, we may also be able to help you file a claim for Social Security Disability. This program provides monthly payments for those who cannot work because of a medical condition.
Recoverable Damages in a Slip and Fall Accident Due to Snow and Icy Conditions
If we can build a strong case to pursue compensation and recover a payout in your Pittsburgh slip and fall case, you will receive money to cover many of the expenses and losses related to your slip and fall accident and injuries. These damages differ depending on your actual losses. For example, you may have ridden to the hospital with a friend instead of taking an ambulance.
Some of the most common damages available following a slip and fall due to snow or ice include:
- Ambulance transportation costs
- Medical treatment
- Ongoing or future care, if necessary
- Prescription drug costs including painkillers
- Mobility devices such as crutches, walkers, canes, and wheelchairs
- Property damages including broken glasses or smartphones
- Lost wages and benefits
- Diminished earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Wrongful death damages, if your loved one died of injuries they sustained in a fall
There Are Deadlines on How Quickly You Must Take Legal Action in a Pennsylvania Slip and Fall Case
Pennsylvania law limits how long we have to pursue compensation through civil action. If we do not file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of your fall injuries, the court is unlikely to allow us to pursue legal action. For this reason, it is imperative we get to work building a solid case on your behalf right away. We can meet with you in the hospital or a rehabilitation facility if you are still undergoing treatment.
While we may be able to negotiate an out-of-court settlement and avoid filing a lawsuit in your slip and fall case, knowing we have the option provides great motivation for the property owner and their insurance company to offer a fair settlement. If we let our time limit expire, they will have little motivation to offer us a settlement that covers your expenses and losses, since we have no further action we can take.
Talk to a Pittsburgh Slip and Fall Accident Attorney
If your fall occurred due to a negligent property owner, you might have the right to file a claim and seek compensation for the damages you sustained. It is important to contact a personal injury attorney to review your rights.
Call or text 412-661-1400 to schedule your free consultation with a Pittsburgh slip and fall accident lawyer at Berger and Green today.
