Philadelphia Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer | Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

Personal Injury Lawyers / Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer / Philadelphia Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer

If you were seriously injured in a slip and fall accident in Philadelphia, Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys is here to help.

Slip-and-fall accidents happen when someone falls because of a dangerous situation that the property owner should have fixed. These accidents can cause serious injuries that may require medical care, physical therapy, and time off work.

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If you or a loved one were injured in a slip and fall accident, you may have a personal injury claim. An experienced Philadelphia premises liability attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys can explain your legal options. You may be able to get money to cover the costs of your physical injuries, lost wages, emotional pain, and other expenses.

Contact the Philadelphia slip and fall attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys for a free consultation.

What Is A Slip and Fall Claim?

A slip and fall accident can occur on private, public, or commercial property. All property owners must keep their property free of safety hazards that could make a slip and fall accident more likely to occur. If a property owner failed to maintain their property safely and reasonably and a slip and fall accident occurred as a result, the property owner can be held responsible to compensate a fall victim who was an invitee.

According to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), medical expenses, lost wages, and out-of-pocket costs for slip and fall victims can total between $13 and $14 million per year in the U.S. Plus, fall injuries make up over 20 percent of all emergency room visits.

Property owners owe invitees a duty of care. Invitees to whom homeowners owe a duty of care include anyone who is invited to the home, such as

friends,
family,
guests,
delivery truck drivers, and
service providers.

On commercial property, such as a business, store, restaurant, or public space, anyone who is allowed in the space is considered an invitee.

In Pennsylvania, property owners have a duty of care to keep their property reasonably safe for people who are invited there, to warn people about unsafe conditions, or to fix them.

When an invitee is injured in a slip and fall case, a claim can be filed under personal injury law or premises liability. The claim will usually be filed against the property owners for their negligence. The injured party will seek compensation from the negligent property owner to cover the costs of their physical injuries, including medical expenses, wages lost from missing work, and more.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents?

Slip and fall hazards can be found anywhere that people walk: in homes, at work, in public spaces, inside businesses, and outside on sidewalks. Falls can occur on level ground or from an elevation.

The most common causes of slip and fall injuries include:

wet floors and stairs
snow covered or icy sidewalks and stairs
unsafe work conditions, especially if work is performed at an elevation such as on a ladder
poor maintenance of walk areas
inappropriate flooring materials that can make slips and trips easier
inadequate lighting

About 60 percent of slip-and-fall accidents happen on a single level, while the other 40 percent happen because of a change in level. Any of these conditions could be caused by the property owner's negligence. The most common injuries in these types of slip and fall cases include:

broken or fractured bones
soft tissue injuries (to tendons, ligaments, and organs)
shoulder and neck injuries
hip fractures
sprained or strained ankles, wrists, or other joints
cuts and abrasions
back and spinal cord injuries
traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)

Many of these injuries can be as serious as those that you might suffer in a car accident. They require significant money and time to recover. That's why it is important to speak with a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer if you or a loved one have been injured.

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys offers free consultations to discuss your legal rights and options. Call, email, or chat with a Philadelphia slip and fall attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys today.

How Can a Philadelphia Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer Help?

In most personal injury claims, including slip and fall cases, lawyers have settlement discussions with the parties' insurance companies to try to reach an agreement that compensates the victim. A lot of fall accident cases are settled successfully when the person who was hurt is represented by an experienced premises liability lawyer.

The issues our personal injury lawyers discuss in settlement discussions include:

liability;
the victims' injuries and pain and suffering, both physical and mental;
compensation needed for present and future medical bills, lost income, and other damages; and
any other issues that may require compensation for reimbursement.

Sometimes, settlement talks fail when the personal injury lawyers and the insurance company cannot reach an agreement. When that happens, your slip and fall attorneys will file a slip and fall accident case in court. Settlement talks can still continue even after a lawsuit is filed, and the at-fault party's insurance company may offer an increased settlement amount after litigation begins.

An experienced lawyer can help you through this process and tell you if the insurance company's offer of compensation is enough and fair based on your medical bills, injuries, and other things. If no settlement is agreed upon, then your slip and fall lawyer will go to trial for you.

How is Negligence Established in Philadelphia Slip and Fall Lawsuits?

If you suffer slip and fall injuries on someone else's property in Philadelphia, you may be able to pursue a claim against the property owner or property manager to recover compensation for your expenses and losses, such as medical expenses, physical pain, and lost wages.

In order for your personal injury lawsuit to be successful under Pennsylvania law, you must show that the property owner, manager, or other responsible party was negligent. This means that they did not satisfy their duty to you by keeping the property safe so you would not fall. Or that the property owner did not warn you that the property was not safe, leading to serious accidents.

Duties of Property Owners

Property owners in Philadelphia can be held liable if there is a known safety hazard on their property or if they should have known that the danger existed. They can also be responsible for a slip and fall claim if they caused a dangerous situation that caused injuries. Examples of not fulfilling these duties include:

not maintaining floors properly
allowing spilled water to remain on the floor
not placing a “caution” sign after mopping floors
allowing broken steps to remain without repair or without notice of their condition
not clearing snow or ice from a sidewalk or stairs
not putting salt down on an icy walkway or stairs

Duties of Third Parties

Commercial property owners often hire another company, called a “third-party,” to maintain and inspect their property. If a slip and fall accident occurs on the property, the third-party may be held liable. This means they may be responsible for paying for your medical bills and other expenses.

When slip and fall accidents occur in a commercial parking lot that serves more than one business, third-party liability can be complicated. This is because more than one person or company may be responsible for maintaining the parking lot and ensuring it is safe. The parties will each have an insurance provider who will point the finger at the other involved parties as they try to avoid paying you the compensation you deserve.

In these complicated situations, you will need an experienced Philadelphia slip and fall lawyer to help show who is the at-fault party responsible to compensate you for your injuries.

Call the Philadelphia law office of our personal injury law firm for a free consultation. You'll be able to speak with the experienced slip-and-fall accident lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys to discuss your rights and options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Slip and Fall Cases

Q: What is Premises Liability?

Premise liability is a legal concept that holds an owner liable for any injuries to a person that occurred on their property.

For example, you're shopping at the local grocery store. In the freezer section, a puddle of water has been forming in front of a broken freezer. There are no warning signs about the puddle. Walking through the section, you slip on the puddle and fall, breaking your hip. In this example, the grocery store may be held liable for your accident.

Liability in Pennsylvania is based on the owner's duty of care to maintain reasonably safe conditions or repair unsafe conditions. Even if the grocery store manager mopped the floor but didn't put up a sign warning of slippery conditions, it may have breached that duty of care.

In premises liability cases, you must prove negligence on the part of the property owner. That's why having an experienced slip-and-fall lawyer who understands the legal complexities is important to getting the compensation you deserve.

Q: What Should I Do After a Slip and Fall Accident in Philadelphia?

If you were injured in a fall, it is important to seek medical attention right away. You should also:

report the accident to the owner or manager of the property,
complete an accident report, and
keep track of your medical bills and expenses associated with the fall.

As soon as possible, you need to speak with a Philadelphia slip and fall attorney.

Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Slip and Fall Case?

The statute of limitations to file a personal injury case in Pennsylvania is two years from the date of injury. This means you have only two years from the time of the accident to file a lawsuit. If you do not start your lawsuit in court within two years, you will not be able to seek compensation from the at-fault parties. Because of this short timeframe, it is important for you to contact a slip-and-fall attorney as soon as possible.

Q: When is a Property Owner Liable for Slip and Fall Injuries?

Anyone who owns property in Pennsylvania has an obligation to

maintain reasonably safe conditions for invitees,
warn invitees of unsafe conditions that have not yet been repaired, and
repair unsafe conditions.

In other words, if the owner knows of the dangerous condition, he must fix it or alert you to it. Sometimes, the owner can be liable even if he does not know about the dangerous condition. That's because he also has a duty to inspect his property to ensure there are no hazards that could injure visitors.

Any potential dangers discovered have to be remedied as soon as possible. If the owner does not do any of these things, then he could be found negligent and liable for your injuries.

Q: Can Philadelphia be Responsible for Slip and Fall Injuries?

Yes. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident on public or government property in Philadelphia you may have a legal claim against certain city or state officials, departments, or employees in charge of maintaining the property. If you want to file a slip and fall case against the city or state, you should speak with an experienced Philadelphia lawyer as soon as possible as the timeframe for filing a lawsuit against the city or state can be shorter than other timeframes.

Q: How Much is a Slip and Fall Claim Worth?

It is impossible to know what kind of settlement to expect before investigating the extent of any injuries sustained, medical costs, lost income, future expenses, and pain and suffering. This is why it is important that you hire a lawyer who will complete a thorough investigation and who will never advise you to accept a settlement for less than you truly deserve.

Each case is unique, but there are categories that are commonly part of compensation. These include:

Expenses for medical care
Physical pain
Emotional suffering
Lost wages
Future lost wages
Medical rehabilitation costs
Court costs
Other expenses and costs

If your fall accident results in severe injuries, you may be entitled to more financial compensation than if you do not suffer serious injuries. The amount of compensation is different for every accident. Our slip and fall lawyers can provide you with an estimate of the compensation you deserve after a financial analysis and investigation.

Q: What Questions Will My Lawyer Ask to Help Determine How Much My Claim is Worth?

There are many factors that go into how much a slip and fall claim is worth. Your lawyer will want to know the answers to many questions. Some of the common questions include:

What or who caused the accident?
How did the accident happened?
How severe and long-lasting are your injuries?
Was the hazardous condition left unchanged for a long period of time?
Will you be able to return to work?
How much insurance coverage is available?

Q: How Much Does it Cost to Hire Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys?

The attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys work on a contingent fee basis. This means that we do not collect a fee unless we win your case. This way, anyone can afford to hire the best legal representation, regardless of wealth or income. You pay nothing up front or out of pocket, and our fee will never be greater than the amount paid to you. If for some reason we cannot achieve a settlement or verdict for you, you owe us nothing. That's our no-fee promise.

Q: How Can Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Prove an Owner of Property is Responsible?

Proving your case will take a team of top investigators and some of the best experts in the field, all of whom Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys has available. Our legal team and experts will gather photographic evidence from the owner, get eyewitness testimony, retrieve physical evidence, and more.

We also have the best experts determine what happened to give you the best chance possible to recover money that you deserve for your injuries. Sometimes, more than one party is responsible for an accident. If this is the case, our team of experienced liability attorneys will go after everyone responsible for your injury.

To prove your accident was caused by the negligence of the owner(s) of the property, the following must be shown:

The person or entity owned the property where your injury occurred;
The owner was negligent in their duty of care in keeping the premises safe;
An accident occurred on the property, causing your injury; and
Your injury was a direct cause of the negligence.

Q: How Can You Prove Negligence in a Slip and Fall Case?

In slip and fall accidents, if a person fell and was injured because of someone else's negligence, the plaintiff can only recover money for their injuries if they prove the at-fault party's negligence.

Negligence can be shown with evidence proving that the owner or manager did not exercise reasonable care in keeping the property safe. Property owners must provide a safe environment and fix safety concerns promptly and adequately. If they fail to do these things, they may be found negligent.

Q: Who is Liable if I Trip and Fall on a Philadelphia Sidewalk?

If you fell in front of a business, the owner of the business may be liable. Business owners are responsible for maintaining the safety of the sidewalk by making sure it is free of water, snow, ice, and debris. If the business rents the space, the property owner might also have legal responsibility for the sidewalk.

The city is responsible for sidewalks on government property. The city may have “secondary liability” for others' sidewalks as well. However, you must prove that the city knew or should have known about dangers present on the sidewalk and did not repair or replace it. Our experienced attorneys can help you determine who is liable when you fall on a Philadelphia sidewalk.

Q: Do I Need a Slip and Fall Lawyer?

Yes, almost always, especially if you suffered a serious injury or your medical costs are high. Because you must file your claim within two years from the date the accident occurred, it is very important to discuss the accident with a Philadelphia slip and fall lawyer as soon as possible.

In order to receive compensation, you must prove the negligence of the property owner or manager. Our experienced and skilled attorneys can help you do that so you can get the compensation you deserve.

You must also show that the at-fault party or the insurance company is required to pay for your losses. The experienced lawyers at our law firm can help, starting with their free consultation. Our legal team will guide you through the legal process. We collect evidence and handle discussions with witnesses, other attorneys, and insurers, so you can focus on getting well. Most importantly, we fight for your rights so you can receive fair compensation.

What Makes Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Different?

For over 60 years, Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys has represented hundreds of thousands of accident victims throughout Pennsylvania to get the compensation needed to get them back on their feet.

Our lawyers have consistently been named among the Best Lawyers in America. Our law firm has been listed among the nation's Best Law Firms by U.S. News and World Report. Our results speak for themselves: we have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients.

No Settlement, No Fee – That's Our Promise to You

At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we believe that all people should have equal access to the justice system, regardless of income. That's why our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means we do not charge a fee for our services unless we win your case. We cover all the upfront costs so you don't have to pay anything out of pocket. Our contingency fee (a percentage of the settlement or verdict we obtain for you) will never exceed the total amount paid to you. If we are unable to produce results for you, you owe us nothing.

Contact a Philadelphia Slip and Fall Attorney Today

The injury you or your loved one suffered could impact your life forever. We will work hard to recover the maximum amount of money for the injuries caused by the accident. At the Philadelphia law office of Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, our slip and fall lawyers have extensive experience with a wide range of personal injury cases. You should not have to face financial expenses on your own if someone else caused your accident. If you've been injured in a Philadelphia slip and fall accident, our slip and fall lawyers can assess your case and discuss your legal options. Contact Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys today for a free consultation.

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Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

1617 John F Kennedy Blvd
Suite 1690,
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 515-7747