Although most people think that serious personal injuries are only caused by a high-speed car crash or a powerful trucking wreck, slip and fall accidents are often the cause of the most significant injuries in the United States. For instance, slip and falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries and the second leading cause of spinal cord injuries. Other common injuries include broken bones, nerve injuries, and torn tendons, ligaments, or tissue that need surgical repair. These types of injuries often result in high medical bills coupled with a prolonged time out of work. This could create a heavy financial burden on a victim and his or her family. At Silver & Silver, our experienced slip and fall lawyers in Philadelphia, PA can help recover the compensation needed to cover medical bills and lost wages.
In addition, victims of a slip and fall accident may also be entitled to pain and suffering. This is a type of non-economic damage for the mental anguish and agony caused by another’s reckless, careless, or negligent conduct. Unfortunately, most property owners, businesses, and government entities that cause these damages will not agree to pay compensation for pain and suffering. These defendants also hire some of the most aggressive insurance adjusters who are trained to undermine, minimize, and even deny valid claims.
We do not think that is fair at Silver & Silver. With over four decades of experience handling personal injury cases, victims should rest assured knowing our experienced slip and fall attorneys in Philadelphia are working on their case to fight back against negligent property owners and overreaching insurance companies.
What is a Slip and Fall Accident?
This type of accident is when a person slips, trips, loses balance, or otherwise falls due to a hazardous or dangerous condition on a walking surface. That surface could be on the ground, but it could also be on stairs, ramps, ladders, platforms, or similar walking areas. This type of incident is sometimes called a trip and fall. These types of cases are known as premises liability matters, or cases involving the property of another person, business, or government agency.
Common Causes of a Slip and Fall Accident in Philadelphia
Most people think of a slip and fall occurring during the winter on ice or during a snowstorm. However, slip and fall accidents can occur under a variety of circumstances, not just during inclement weather. In fact, slip and falls occur every day. Despite being a common occurrence, most incidents are due to the negligence of another who owns, rents, controls, maintains, or is otherwise responsible for the premises.
Some of the most common causes of slip and falls include the following:
- Spilled products on the floor
- Tracked in rain or snow
- Debris on the ground
- Snow and ice
- Broken tiles
- Uneven walking services
- Damages stairs
- Poorly lit walking areas
- Defective banisters or handrails
- Excessive use of soap or wax on a floor
- Broken curbs
- Cracked sidewalks or patios
- Unexpected hazardous like wires, cords, and other tripping hazards
- Walking surfaces not built to code, and
- Many other common causes that our slip and fall attorneys in Philadelphia, PA at Silver & Silver could handle for you.
Proving Liability in Pennsylvania
If you were injured in a store, government building, or on the property of another person, let Silver & Silver’s slip and fall lawyers in Philadelphia prove your case. Under Pennsylvania law, all property owners must keep their premises reasonably safe under the circumstances to prevent foreseeable harm to foreseeable guests. The level of care owed to guests depends on the type of guest.
For instance, guests coming to a property to purchase goods or services are called business invitees. Property owners or possessors owe the highest level of care to business invitees to ensure their safety on the property. This includes protecting them from harm by making the necessary repairs or warning and excluding guests from a hazard if it cannot be repaired right away. There must also be routine inspections to check for defects.
The next level of guests is known as social invitees or licensees. These are guests that are invited for causal purposes onto the property. Think dinner guests for neighbors or a backyard BBQ for a holiday. Property owners or possessors are required to keep social invitees reasonably safe by repairing or warning of known defects.
The final level of guests are not guests at all, but trespassers. These are entrants onto the land who are not invited or sometimes known to the property owner. The only duty to trespassers is to not cause intentional or grossly negligent harm to them. This means there is no duty to fill holes in the yard, but if a landowner knows that trespassers cut through his property, he cannot put a bear trap on the path.
Whether you were a business invitee, social invitee, or even a trespasser, you have rights under Pennsylvania law if you were hurt on the property of another.
Injured on the Property of Another? Call Silver & Silver
If you or a loved one have been injured on the property of another person, business, or in a government building, you may be entitled to compensation under Pennsylvania law. However, the time you must seek compensation is limited by the statute of limitations or a time limit on filing a lawsuit. Call Silver & Silver, the experienced slip and fall lawyers in Philadelphia, PA, to protect your rights to compensation by dialing 610-638-7255 or use our convenient “contact us” box available here. We offer FREE consultations and accept cases on a contingency fee agreement, meaning we only get paid after we collect compensation for you.