Firm Provides Legal Assistance After a Slip and Fall Injury in New Jersey
Our experienced team serves Jersey City, Hudson County and Essex County
Whether you’re on your morning commute or dining at your favorite restaurant, an abrupt slip and fall can turn a routine day into an extended nightmare. One of these incidents can trigger intense pain, time out of work and a long period of recovery. If this has happened to you or a family member while on someone else’s property, Miller, Meyerson & Corbo in Jersey City is ready to help. Our skilled trial lawyers are determined to give you the best chance to obtain the compensation you deserve. We draw on decades of experience to build effective legal arguments. When you retain our services, you can have confidence in our ability to obtain an ample settlement or verdict.
What are the most common types of slip and fall accidents?
A person might be entitled to damages from a slip and fall or trip and fall accident when a hazard exists on property owned or controlled by another person or business, and that hazard directly causes a fall that results in injury or death. Common causes of slip and fall accidents include:
- Liquids or slick substances on floors
- Debris on stairs
- Uneven levels of surfaces
- Loose or broken floor tiles
- Inadequate lighting in passages or on stairs
- Potholes
- Snow and ice
Frequently, defendants argue that the hazard in question was “open and obvious” to the visitor in an attempt to shift the legal responsibility to the victim. We counter meritless defenses.
Who can be held liable for slip and fall injuries?
When a visitor suffers a slip and fall, parties with control over the property conditions can be held liable. This could be the property owner, maintenance company or tenant. In cases where someone falls at a business, the business owner can be held liable for hazards created by its employees and by other customers if the victim can prove the business was negligent.
How do you prove negligence in a slip and fall case?
Property owners have a duty to take reasonable measures to make their premises safe for visitors. Failure to do so is negligence, which would make the liable party legally responsible for injuries that result. In slip and fall cases, the overriding question is usually whether the defendant’s conduct with regard to the hazard was reasonable. The answer depends on the totality of the circumstances, which prompts other questions, such as:
- Did the defendant know about the hazard?
- Was this the kind of hazard a responsible defendant should have known about?
- Was there enough time between the creation or discovery of the hazard for the defendant to act?
- If this was a foreseeable, frequently occurring hazard, such as a spill on the floor, did the defendant have a system in place to discover and remediate such hazards effectively?
- If this was a known hazard, did the defendant provide adequate warning?
- Were the circumstances such that a visitor would be distracted and not observe the warning?
Because proving fault in a premises liability case is complex, you should contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. You can also help your case by:
- Taking photos of the hazard
- Getting contact information from any witnesses
- Seeking immediate medical care
These steps can help establish that a hazard did exist and that your fall, not some intervening cause, is the reason for your injuries.
Consult a Jersey City attorney for a free consultation about your slip and fall claim
Miller, Meyerson & Corbo in Jersey City represents clients injured in slip and fall accidents in Hudson County and throughout New Jersey. Our office is conveniently located at 35 Journal Square Plaza. To schedule a free consultation, call 201-333-9000 or contact us online today. We handle all injury cases on a contingency basis.