Slipping and falling on someone else’s property can leave you with serious injuries that require medical care and prevent you from working or living your life as you normally would. In addition to dealing with the pain and emotional distress the fall caused, you run the risk of experiencing financial problems that further impact your well-being. If the accident occurred because of another party’s negligent or wrongful conduct, you shouldn’t have to manage all of this on your own. Hiring a Harrisburg slip and fall lawyer is the right step to take.
By filing a personal injury claim, you have an opportunity to recover your losses. The process can be complex, however, because you’ll be dealing with insurance companies ready to try everything to minimize your settlement. To combat their tactics, you need slip and fall attorneys who can guide you and fight for your rights. At Wapner Newman, our team of personal injury lawyers brings decades of experience to the negotiation table to help you receive fair compensation.
Contact us at (215) 569-0900 to speak with one of our Harrisburg slip and fall lawyers.
Why Choose Us?
The Importance of Experienced Legal Representation
The personal injury claims process is much more complicated than it might initially appear. You’ll have to gather a substantial amount of evidence to demonstrate that the other party acted negligently or intentionally, which is difficult to do in the best of circumstances, let alone when you’re struggling with injuries. Additionally, you will have to communicate and negotiate with insurers, who will be looking for any reason to deny your claim.
When you hire experienced slip and fall lawyers, you can focus on healing instead of worrying about the ins and outs of the legal process. At Wapner Newman, we are fiercely dedicated to providing reliable representation to those who are battling injuries. During a free consultation, we’ll assess your claim to ensure that we’re the right team for the job. From there, we will immediately begin the process of investigating the accident and gathering evidence.
Our decades of experience have given us the insight necessary to negotiate effectively with insurers and work toward fair settlements. If settling isn’t possible, we can always take your case to court and fight for your rights there.
Understanding Your Rights After a Slip and Fall Accident
Whenever you step onto another person’s property, you expect the premises to be reasonably safe. Property owners or managers have a responsibility to visitors and guests to ensure there’s nothing that could cause them harm and to post warnings if a hazard is present. If the property owner is — or should reasonably be — aware a danger exists and does nothing to remedy the problem, they breach the duty of care they have toward others. If their conduct results in your slipping and falling and suffering an injury that requires medical care, the property owner or manager can be held liable for negligence.
It’s important to note that the owner’s duty of care is connected to the relationship they have with the plaintiff. Pennsylvania’s premises liability laws state that property owners owe a high duty of care toward invitees, who are people invited to be on the property for either social or business reasons. Property owners also owe licensees a similarly high duty of care to keep the premises safe.
The owner faces less liability, however, if a trespasser gets injured on their property. Most of the time, the only way a trespasser can recover losses is if their injuries occurred as a result of wanton or willful misconduct. Simple negligence won’t usually result in liability.
There are some exceptions to this, though. If the landowner knows that the person regularly trespasses, they must alert them to any dangers. However, they don’t have a responsibility to resolve the hazardous situation. Pennsylvania also recognizes a higher duty of care toward child trespassers. If the property has anything that attracts a child, such as a pool or trampoline, and the owner knows that children trespass, they must ensure that the premises are safe.
Common Causes of Harrisburg Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents occur for a number of reasons. Here’s a look at the most common ones that our Harrisburg slip and fall attorneys have dealt with.
Wet Floors
One of the most frequent causes of slip and fall accidents encountered by our personal injury lawyers is wet floors. If there has been a spill or if rain or ice has pooled on any type of flooring, people can lose their footing and fall. Property owners must conduct regular inspections and remedy any issues that they find. Until it’s possible to resolve the problem, property owners must warn visitors of the danger. For example, if a pipe breaks in a store and causes puddles, the property owner must place warnings until a plumber can fix the problem.
Weather Conditions
Snow, rain, and ice can all make sidewalks and other surfaces slippery. Although property owners can’t control the weather, they must be vigilant about its effects and take steps to prevent falls. This might include tasks like shoveling snow, salting sidewalks, and placing warning signs.
Uneven Surfaces
Any uneven surfaces on a property, such as wrinkled carpeting, warped floorboards, and cracked pavement, can cause people to trip and fall. Our Pennsylvania slip and fall lawyers often represent people who have suffered injuries because of faulty stair steps, too. If they’re not even, it’s easy for visitors to lose their footing.
Poor Lighting
Not having proper lighting in walkways, parking lots, and even in private homes can also cause people to fall. It’s the responsibility of the property owner to ensure that there’s enough light for visitors and that all fixtures are working.
In one case settled by our Harrisburg personal injury lawyers, a woman who slipped on a slippery coffee shop floor received $450,000 for her injuries.
Slip and Fall FAQs
If you have suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident, it’s likely that you have numerous questions about the claims process. Our trip and fall lawyers offer the guidance you need.
Do I have a limited amount of time to file a slip and fall claim?
Yes. As with other personal injury claims, you must abide by the statute of limitations, which gives you two years from the date of the accident to file. There may be exceptions to this, however, if you didn’t know right away that you were injured, or you were a minor at the time of the accident, or you fell on government property. If the defendant fled the state, the statute of limitations can be halted.
What damages can I claim after a slip and fall accident?
You can claim economic and non-economic damages. Economic ones cover financial losses you sustain, such as lost wages and medical expenses, while non-economic damages compensate you for less tangible losses. These might include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of support and companionship if a loved one dies because of the accident.
How do I prove that negligence led to the slip and fall accident?
To demonstrate that negligence took place, you must first establish that the defendant owed you a duty of care. If you were an invitee or licensee on the property, the owner had a responsibility to maintain reasonably safe premises. If they didn’t fulfill this duty of care and you suffered injuries because of their conduct, they were negligent.
Do I have to hire a Harrisburg trip and fall lawyer?
You don’t have to hire representation, but it is always in your best interests to do so. A lawyer will know how to gather the necessary evidence and present a robust case. A Pennsylvania attorney will also have the skills to negotiate effectively with insurers, helping you obtain a fair settlement. If negotiations stall and a settlement appears impossible, your attorney can file a lawsuit and take your case to court.
How much is my slip and fall case worth?
Without knowing the specifics, it can be very difficult to evaluate individual cases. For the most part, however, accidents that result in serious injuries tend to mean larger settlements or jury awards. During a free consultation, we can help you get a better sense of what to expect.
If you’ve suffered a slip and fall accident and have further questions about your options, our team of Harrisburg trip and fall lawyers can help.
Contact Wapner Newman for Experienced Help
Receive Trusted Advice From Dedicated Slip and Fall Lawyers
A slip and fall accident could mean facing serious injuries that impact your everyday life. If the property owner was negligent and their conduct led you to suffer, you may be able to hold them responsible for your losses. At Wapner Newman, our team of Harrisburg personal injury attorneys can help you understand your rights and guide you through the next steps involved in filing a claim.
Contact our team at (215) 569-0900 to schedule a free consultation.