If a fall on someone else’s property left you hurt in Allentown or the wider Lehigh Valley, an Allentown slip and fall lawyer at Wapner Newman can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
We serve Allentown and the surrounding communities from our nearby Center Valley office, and we bring the same resources to a fall case that we bring to any serious injury. Wapner Newman has represented injured people across Pennsylvania and New Jersey since 1978.
A fall is easy for a property owner to wave off as your fault, but the truth is often very different. Call us at 800-529-6600 for a free consultation, and let us look at what happened.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATIONDo You Have a Slip and Fall Case in Pennsylvania?
You may have a slip and fall case if a property owner’s carelessness created or ignored the hazard that caused your fall. Pennsylvania law requires those who control property to keep it reasonably safe and to address dangers they know about, or reasonably should have found. When an owner falls short of that duty and you are injured, you can seek compensation for what the fall has cost you.
The key question is almost always one of notice, meaning whether the owner had time to discover and fix the hazard. An owner will often argue the danger appeared moments before your fall, and answering that argument takes evidence. That is where our work begins.
Where Slip and Falls Happen in the Lehigh Valley
Slip and fall injuries happen throughout the Lehigh Valley, in the everyday places people shop, work, and live. The setting often shapes the case, because different owners keep different records and face different duties. Knowing the local landscape helps us move quickly on your behalf.
Common settings for the falls we handle include:
- Retail centers and stores along MacArthur Road and near the Lehigh Valley Mall, where spills and clutter create hazards.
- Restaurants, hotels, and entertainment venues, including the crowds around events at the PPL Center.
- Apartment complexes and rental properties, where owners let stairs, walkways, and lighting fall into disrepair.
- Parking lots and sidewalks, where uneven pavement and poor upkeep cause trips and falls.
Lehigh Valley winters add a serious risk, because property owners must clear ice and snow from entrances and walkways within a reasonable time. When a fall sends someone to a hospital such as Lehigh Valley Health Network or St. Luke’s, the costs mount fast, and a claim is meant to answer them.
Injuries a Serious Fall Can Cause
A fall can cause far more harm than people expect, and older adults are especially vulnerable. Landing on a hard surface can break bones and damage the brain and spine in an instant, and some of the most serious injuries are not obvious right away. That is why prompt medical care matters for your health and for any claim you may bring.
Injuries we commonly see in these cases include:
- Hip, wrist, and ankle fractures that may require surgery.
- Head injuries and concussions with effects that can linger.
- Spinal injuries that change movement and sensation.
- Torn ligaments, dislocations, and deep soft tissue damage.
- Chronic pain that persists long after the fall.
Because some injuries surface slowly, we encourage anyone hurt in a fall to get checked out and then let us review what happened. Early documentation strengthens both your recovery and your case.
How Do You Prove a Property Owner Was at Fault?
You prove fault in a slip and fall case by showing the owner knew, or reasonably should have known, about the hazard and failed to act. This turns on evidence, and the strongest evidence tends to disappear quickly. Surveillance video is often recorded over within days, and hazards are cleaned up soon after a fall.
That is why we move fast to build your case. Our work commonly includes:
- Preserving surveillance video and incident reports before they are lost.
- Obtaining cleaning schedules and maintenance logs that show how long a hazard existed.
- Finding witnesses who saw the condition or the fall itself.
- Photographing the scene while the hazard is still there.
Pennsylvania also follows modified comparative negligence, so an owner may argue you were not paying attention. You can still recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and a clear record is how we keep the blame where it belongs.
Why Choose Wapner Newman for Your Lehigh Valley Slip and Fall Claim?
People across the Lehigh Valley trust us because we treat slip and fall claims with the resources and respect they deserve, no matter how minor an insurer tries to make them seem. Wapner Newman has represented the injured for more than 45 years, and in that time we have recovered more than $1 billion for our clients. Prior results do not predict or promise the outcome of any future case, but they reflect a firm that prepares each claim to succeed.
What our clients receive:
- We come to you. From our Center Valley office, we serve the whole Lehigh Valley, and if your injury makes travel hard we will meet you at home or in the hospital, arrange transportation, or meet by video.
- The strength of a full firm, with attorneys and staff working your case together.
- Plain answers, so you always know where your claim stands.
Our commitment to every client is the same: serious injuries, serious results. Call 800-529-6600 and tell us your story.
What a Slip and Fall Claim Can Recover
A slip and fall claim can recover the medical costs, lost income, and personal losses your injury has caused. The value depends on how badly you were hurt and how the injury has changed your daily life, which is why we look past the first bills to the full picture. Insurers rarely account for everything on their own.
Compensation in these cases often includes:
- Medical expenses, from emergency care to surgery, therapy, and future treatment.
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity if you cannot work as before.
- Pain, suffering, and the loss of activities that gave your life meaning.
- Out-of-pocket costs tied to the injury, such as assistive devices.
Slip and fall cases sit within the broader area of premises liability, and when a fall proves fatal, close family members may bring a wrongful death claim. We account for every loss and press for the recovery your situation truly requires. Businesses open to the public also owe a duty to keep their spaces safe and accessible to the people they invite in.
Pennsylvania’s Filing Deadline for Slip and Fall Claims
In Pennsylvania, you generally have two years from the date of your fall to file a lawsuit, under the state’s statute of limitations. Once that deadline passes, the court can dismiss your claim regardless of how clearly the owner was at fault. Shorter deadlines apply in some situations, including claims against a government body, while injuries to children are generally measured from the child’s 18th birthday.
The proof a fall case depends on can vanish within days or weeks, especially video. Contacting us soon after your fall protects both your deadline and the evidence. Call 800-529-6600 and we will help you understand your timeline.
FAQs Answered by a Slip and Fall Lawyer in Allentown
Below are answers to questions we hear often from people hurt in a fall across the Lehigh Valley.
Do you have an office in Allentown?
We serve Allentown and the entire Lehigh Valley from our Center Valley office, a short drive south of the city. If your injury makes it hard to travel, we will come to you at home or in the hospital, arrange your transportation, or meet by video. Distance is never a reason to go without help.
What should I do after a slip and fall?
Get medical care first, even if you feel only sore, because some fall injuries appear later. If you can, report the fall to the owner or manager, ask for a written incident report, and take photos of the hazard and your injuries. Saving the shoes and clothing you wore can help as well.
The property owner says the fall was my fault. Does that end my claim?
No. Owners and their insurers routinely shift blame to the injured person, but that argument is not the last word. Pennsylvania lets you recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and we build the evidence that keeps responsibility where it belongs.
How much does a slip and fall lawyer cost?
Your consultation is free, and we handle slip and fall claims on a contingency basis. Our attorney fee comes only as a percentage of what we recover for you, so there is nothing to pay up front. If we do not recover for you, you owe us no attorney fee.
How long will my case take?
It depends on the severity of your injury, whether fault is disputed, and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Some claims resolve in months, while others take longer, especially when you are still being treated. We keep your case moving and keep you informed throughout.
Talk With an Allentown Slip and Fall Lawyer Today
A slip and fall is a real injury with real costs, and you deserve to have it taken seriously. At Wapner Newman, we will investigate your fall, preserve the evidence, deal with the insurer, and fight for the compensation you need, all while serving the Lehigh Valley from our Center Valley office. Your consultation is free, and you owe no attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Call Wapner Newman today at 800-529-6600, or reach out through our contact page to schedule your free consultation. Let us handle the legal side while you focus on healing.