The Easton slip and fall accident lawyers at Munley Law help injured victims pursue compensation when unsafe property conditions lead to serious harm. Since 1959, we have represented people across Pennsylvania who were injured due to negligent property owners, businesses, landlords, and government entities.
When hazardous conditions cause preventable slip and fall accidents and injuries, victims often face mounting medical bills, lost income, and long-term physical limitations. Our nationally recognized trial attorneys investigate accidents, prove liability, and seek compensation under the law so clients can focus on recovery instead of legal stress.
We guide injured individuals through every stage of a slip and fall case – from investigation and insurance negotiations to litigation when necessary. Contact our premises liability attorneys today for your free consultation and case evaluation.
What Is Considered a Slip and Fall Accident Under Pennsylvania Law?
Slip and fall accidents fall under premises liability law, a type of personal injury law that addresses a property owner’s legal responsibility to an individual injured on their property, provided that the owner breached their duty of care. Slip and falls typically happen when a hazardous environment makes it unsafe for an individual to move through private, public, or commercial property safely. Typically, these accidents are avoidable if the responsible party maintains spaces that are clear of slip and fall hazards.
To successfully seek out a claim or lawsuit, you must prove liability; you must prove that the property owner has shown negligence and breached their legal duty of care.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 How Can You Prove Negligence in an Easton Slip and Fall Case?
Pennsylvania law recognizes different duties of care depending on why a person was on the property:
- Invitees: Customers, patrons, and others invited onto the property for business purposes are generally owed the highest duty of care. Property owners must inspect for hazards, address dangerous conditions, and provide reasonable warnings.
- Licensees: Social guests and others who enter property with permission but for their own purposes are generally owed a duty to be warned of known dangers that are not obvious.
- Trespassers: Property owners generally owe limited duties to trespassers, although exceptions may apply in certain circumstances, including cases involving children.
Identifying your legal status on the property is often an important step in determining whether a property owner may be liable for a slip and fall injury.
To successfully display negligence, the breach in duty of care must be proven:
- The property owner (the defendant) owed you, the plaintiff, a duty of care.
- The property owner breached that duty.
- The breach caused harm to you.
- You suffered injuries and damages due to the breach of care.
How Can an Easton Slip and Fall Lawyer Strengthen Your Case?
After a serious fall, many people are dealing with medical treatment, missed work, and financial concerns. An attorney can help preserve evidence, identify responsible parties, and manage the legal process.
What Do I Need to Do if I Am in a Slip and Fall Accident?
Call an Easton slip and fall injury attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys for a free consult and case evaluation — even if just to make sure you are on track. In the meantime:
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Delaying medical care and the validation of your injuries can impact your efforts to obtain fair compensation. Take photos of any visible injuries.
- Get the contact info of any witnesses.
- Report the accident to the owner or property manager.
- Keep good records of all medical evaluations and billing.
How Can a Slip and Fall Lawyer Help Move My Claim Process Along?
Your Easton slip and fall attorney will aim to prove negligence and that the property owner at fault breached their legal duty of care. In sum, your slip and fall accident lawyer will use their resources and team for:
- Investigation: Your slip and fall attorney will help to establish liability and breach of care of duty; they will aim to prove that the defendant was at fault and that you were injured because of this. Failure to maintain proper building codes, maintenance, and improper signage can all be contributing factors.
- Insurance Claims: Your slip and fall attorney knows the legal timelines and can assist in filing claims with the property owner’s insurance company. This will prompt the adjuster to assess damages and help to play a part in estimating your claim. Your slip and fall accident attorney will ensure you do not accept early, minimal proposed settlements. The slip-and-fall attorney team at Munley Law has the resources, relationships, experience, and skill sets to negotiate with insurers and to pursue a fair resolution through settlement negotiations when appropriate.
- Discovery: The slip and fall team will send our experts to survey the fall site, and possible environmental hazards, question possible witnesses, seek out photos or video footage (when available), and account for any areas of discrepancy. Both parties exchange information and findings here; request depositions, documents, and admissions; confirm witnesses and/or experts who can offer testimonies.
- Pre-Trial: If negotiations come to a standstill, the slip-and-fall lawyers at Munley Law have experience representing clients in court when settlement negotiations do not resolve a claim. This is where mediation, negotiations, settlements, or moving on to trial occur.
Common Hazardous Conditions that Lead to Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are among the most common types of premises liability claims. Some of the most common hazardous conditions occur at workplaces, grocery stores, bars, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, and malls:
- Icy sidewalks or parking lots
- Inadequate lighting
- Faulty equipment
- Poor maintenance
- Uneven or broken sidewalks and pathways
- Falling object
- Broken or inadequate handrails
- Building code violations
- Loose carpeting
- Poorly marked steps, ramps, or slopes
- Unleashed dog
- Malfunctioning elevator/escalator
What are the Comparative Negligence Laws in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence system under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7102. If you are found to be 50% or less responsible for the accident, you may still recover damages, although your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. However, your compensation will be adjusted in proportion to your level of blame.
For example, if Bob fell and was 20% at fault, the other party is at 80% to blame. If the total claim was justified and for $10,000, Bob could recover $8,000 from the responsible party (and only be responsible for $2,000).
What are the Different Types of Property Classes for Slip and Fall Accidents?
Different types of property classes have different appointed parties responsible for proper maintenance and care:
- Rental property with the landlord
- Private/homeowner residence
- Employers’ businesses and commercial property
- Government property
How Does the Location of My Slip and Fall Accident Impact My Slip and Fall Case?
- Rental properties are possessed by occupiers; depending on the nature of the lease, the owner or occupier may be at fault. A slip and fall lawyer is ideal to consult to review the lease (which would disclose who is responsible for maintenance, repairs, and possible hazards that may be present and not disclosed in the agreement).
- Homeowners may resort to their homeowner’s insurance for coverage.
- Businesses and commercial properties: For employees, workers’ compensation claims can be sought; there are guidelines on the types of injuries and damages the worker can be compensated for.
- Government property: There is a very immediate deadline for giving formal notice of the injury, and there is also a statutory limit on the amount of compensation that may be awarded.
What Types of Slip and Fall Accident Damages Can I Be Compensated for?
Broken limbs, torn ligaments, cuts, bruises, traumatic brain injuries, and herniated discs are all some of the common physical injuries associated with slip and fall accidents. You can be compensated for your pain and suffering, medical bills, past, current, and future lost wages, and for pain and suffering.
When Do I Have to File My Easton Slip and Fall Accident Claim?
In most Pennsylvania premises liability cases, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the injury, under 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524. Missing the filing deadline may prevent you from pursuing compensation, so it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after an accident.
Certain claims involving government entities may be subject to additional notice requirements and shorter deadlines.
How Much Is an Easton Slip and Fall Case Worth?
The value of a slip and fall claim depends on the specific facts of the case. Factors that may affect compensation include:
- The severity of your injuries
- The cost of medical treatment and future care
- Lost income and diminished earning capacity
- The extent of any permanent impairment or disability
- The degree of fault assigned to each party
- The impact of the injuries on your daily life
Because every case is different, past settlements and verdicts do not guarantee future results.
How Do Lawyers Calculate Slip and Fall Compensation?
Compensation is typically based on factors such as medical expenses, lost income, future treatment needs, pain and suffering, and the overall impact of the injury on your life. The available evidence, liability issues, and insurance coverage can also affect the value of a claim.
Why You Should Choose Munley Law for an Easton Slip and Fall Case
Our Easton slip and fall attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys have helped people throughout Pennsylvania for almost seven decades. We have the relationships, resources, and experience handling premises liability and slip and fall claims throughout Pennsylvania.
At Munley Law, our firm has earned recognition from Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Since our founding, our attorneys have recovered over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for injured clients. We are recognized by various legal organizations and are experienced in handling complex personal injury matters.
We are proud to have attorneys in the Litigation Counsel of America, an elite honors society that represents less than half of 1% of American lawyers. Senior partner Marion Munley currently serves as Vice President of the American Association for Justice (AAJ). All our attorneys are members of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and all five Munley Law partners have been named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers list.
Frequently Asked Questions About Slip and Fall Accident Cases in Easton
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Slip and Fall Claim in Pennsylvania?
While not legally required, working with an experienced attorney may help you gather evidence, establish liability, and pursue compensation. Insurance companies often attempt to minimize payouts or deny liability. A lawyer gathers evidence, consults experts, and negotiates with insurers and advocates on your behalf.
Can I Still Recover Compensation If I Slipped on Wet Floors?
Yes. If the property owner knew, or reasonably should have known, about the dangerous condition (e.g., melted ice or spilled liquid) and failed to warn visitors, you may still be able to recover compensation. Evidence such as maintenance records, surveillance footage, or witness testimony often determines liability.
What Injuries Are Most Common in Slip and Fall Cases?
Victims of slip and fall accidents frequently suffer fractures, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, torn ligaments, and hip injuries. According to the CDC, falls are a leading cause of traumatic brain injury nationwide.
What If My Fall Happened at a Business or Retail Store?
Businesses have a legal duty to maintain premises that are reasonably safe for customers. Failure to clean spills, repair hazards, or provide warnings may create liability under Pennsylvania premises liability law.
Are My Slip and Fall Settlements Taxable?
Generally, compensation for physical injuries is not taxable under federal law. However, portions of punitive damages or lost wages may be taxed depending on the circumstances.
Can Weather-Related Falls Still Lead to Liability?
Yes. Property owners must take reasonable steps to remove snow, ice, or water accumulation within a reasonable timeframe after inclement weather.
Contact an Easton Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer at Munley Law
At Munley Law, we do not charge for our consultation and case evaluation. Our personal injury lawyers work on a contingency, which means they only receive attorney fees if they obtain compensation through a settlement or verdict on your behalf. If we win you a settlement, we work for a percentage of what you are awarded. If you don’t get a settlement, you owe us nothing.
Our Easton attorneys can review your situation, explain your legal options, and discuss whether you may have a premises liability claim. Contact us today for a free consultation.
James Christopher Munley
James Christopher Munley is an award-winning and trusted premises liability lawyer. Chris is a board-certified civil trial advocate and has been named to the Best Lawyers in America and the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America. Chris has also been appointed to the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania by the National Trial Lawyers Association and is among the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers since 2005.
