Slip And Fall Injuries In Pennsylvania
The Ground You Walk On May Not Be As Safe As You Thought
Slip and fall accidents are the most common type of premises liability cases and occur on a daily basis in the United States and in Pennsylvania. The very ground you walk on can be unsafe if it is not maintained properly. Tile Safe reports that slip and fall accidents account for over 20,000 deaths per year in North America and over 540,000 accidents require hospital care. The Pennsylvania slip and fall lawyers at the Philadelphia law firm of Reiff and Bily have been researching and successfully handling slip and fall cases since 1979.
Even the best maintained property can have problems, which can lead to serious injury. Over time, smooth surfaces can become uneven and useful items such as a drainage system can become a hazard. The three main types of accidents are: (1) trip and fall, where a foreign object or defect (like a cracked sidewalk) is the primary cause of the fall; (2) slip and fall, where there is an inconsistent grip on the floor or bottom of a shoe; and (3) step and fall, where an injury is caused by a hole or dip in the walking surface.
Slip and falls can occur anywhere and are most common at casinos, restaurants, movie theaters, public buildings, hotels, school, or houses of worship. If unsafe property caused injury the property owner could be liable for monetary damages to the injured party. To prove liability, one of the three situations must apply: (1) the property owner or employee caused the unsafe condition and the subsequent slip and fall accident (like spilling something and not cleaning it up); (2) the property owner or employee knew about the condition but did not try to correct it or warn about the unsafe condition; or (3) the property owner or employee should have known about the danger because a "reasonable person” would have found the problem and taken steps to prevent possible injuries. A "reasonable person" is someone who makes regular and thorough efforts to keep the property safe and clean under the current circumstances.
Actual notice (notified by a note or sign) and constructive notice (presumed notice even without actual knowledge) of a defect or problem can indicate liability. If the person injured is a business invitee (being invited onto the property for business), there is a duty to prevent this harm and make sure the property is safe from defects which may lead to an injury.
If you are a property owner, take the necessary precautions to prevent possible injuries by removing ice or snow, fixing holes or replacing damaged walkways, placing caution signs in dangerous areas, or make dangerous locations inaccessible to the public.
If you are ever in a slip and fall accident, seek medical attention immediately and make sure to tell your doctor where you fell and what caused your fall. You should also have photographs taken of the area where the incident happened as soon as possible as well as have a qualified expert examine the area for defects and/or safety violations. Philadelphia personal injury lawyer Jeffrey Reiff and the experienced Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys and Reiff and Bily will examine the facts and you may be able to recover the maximum monetary compensation for slip and fall accident, such as reimbursement for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
There are several injuries that could occur from a slip and fall. These include back and neck injuries, broken bones, a concussion, head or brain injuries, lacerations and bruises, paralysis, or spinal cord injuries. These or other injuries may require expensive medical treatments, leave you unable to work for an indefinite period of time, and could possibly result in long-term physical disabilities. The Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers at Reiff and Bily work on a contingent fee basis, charging a small percentage of the recovery. They will not get paid one cent unless there is a successful recovery. They have handled a multitude of slip and fall accidents and have successfully recovered in excess of $180 million dollars from their opponents for physical injuries and emotional damages.
If you are in need of an attorney because you or someone you love has suffered a serious injury as a result of a slip and fall accident, please call the experienced Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers at the law firm of Reiff and Bily or visit www.reiffandbily.com.
