How Our Slip & Fall Lawyer In West Chester Can Help You
Slip and fall accidents can be devastating to the injured victim and his or her family. Some may think that a slip and fall merely results in physical injuries that tend to be minor and easily remedied. However, this is rarely the case. Most slip-and-fall accidents result in prolonged recovery, high medical bills, significant lost wages, and emotional pain and suffering. Most victims and their families feel the financial pressures of an unexpected personal injury, some for many years after the initial accident. The only thing worse than this is the fact that the insurance carrier will likely try to blame you for the fall, refusing to pay you fair compensation—or any compensation at all.
Do not let this happen to you. Seek the help of an experienced slip & fall attorney in West Chester, PA to ensure that insurance companies pay their fair share of their insured’s fault. With over 40 years of experience, Silver & Silver has a proven track record of success for families impacted by a negligent property owner, tenant, or maintenance company. Learn how our personal injury lawyers in West Chester can help you during a FREE consultation and know that you do not pay us any legal fees until your case is settled or won.
What is a Slip and Fall Accident?
A slip and fall accident occurs whenever a person slips, trips, or steps and falls on another’s property due to a defendant’s negligence in maintaining the property in a reasonably safe condition. The defendant could be the property owner or tenant, an actual person, business, or government entity, or a defendant could be a person or company responsible for maintaining and controlling the property (i.e., a cleaning crew).
More specifically, the defendant must have either:
- Created the negligent condition
- Knew about the negligent condition; or
- Should have known about the negligent condition.
In Pennsylvania, and many other jurisdictions, the defendant is afforded a reasonable period of time to remedy any unsafe and negligent conditions on their property. However, past that reasonable time, if due care is not exercised to make the property safe, the defendant could be liable for any accidents that ensue because of the negligence. This concept is known as constructive notice, and this is what most slip & fall lawsuits are hotly contested over in West Chester and the rest of Pennsylvania.
Examples of Negligent Conditions on a Property
Examples of negligent conditions include, but are certainly not limited to the following:
- Snowy and icy walkways and sidewalks
- Unstable or moving sidewalks and steps
- Spills or debris on the floor
- Inadequate safety matting in hazardous areas
- An area with inadequate lighting
- Potholes or holes in driveways, parking lots, or grass
- Unstable handrails
- Uneven walking surfaces
- Broken tiles or flooring
- Wet or slippery floors
- Excessive use of soap or wax on floors, and
- Many other common causes of slip & falls in West Chester, PA.
Actions to Take After You Have Been Injured
Report your fall to an employee or to law enforcement to create a record. This can help establish your claim.
Seek medical attention as soon as possible is the first, urgent, step to take. Whether this is the emergency room or a primary physician, document what happened and your initial and progressing conditions with specificity and great thoroughness. Be open to the fact that something you may think is trivial may be quite significant and impact your case greatly. Tell your medical providers everything you can, whether or not you believe them to be the most important factors.
Take photographs of the scene of the fall including any signage, water, debris, clothing, lighting, or any other elements that could help establish your claim under Pennsylvania law.
Get witness information to help support what happened and how you were injured.
Contact an experienced slip & fall lawyer in West Chester, PA to represent you.
Call Silver & Silver For Help After a Personal Injury Accident
If you have been injured on the property of another private homeowner, store owner, government builder, or on any other premises, you can trust the slip & fall attorneys at Silver & Silver to represent you. We have over 40 years of experience and can work with your treating physicians to establish your damages while also hiring some of the leading experts to prove a defendant’s fault. Learn how we can help you and your family recover compensation during a FREE consultation by dialing 610-638-7255 or use our convenient “contact us” box available here.