Different types of slip and fall accidents can lead to severe injuries, including broken bones, soft tissue injuries and even traumatic brain injury (TBI). These accidents can occur in various places, including retail stores, businesses, restaurants, public and private walkways, parking lots, workplaces, or at a friend’s or neighbor’s house.
Slip and fall accidents are often the result of someone else’s negligence, meaning they fall under premises liability law. Whether or not you believe negligence contributed to your fall, timely consultation with a slip and fall attorney in Hackensack will ensure you understand all your rights and that you get the compensation you need to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other potential damages.
Slip and Fall Categories
The catch-all term of slip and fall encompasses three types of accidents, which often lead to injuries. They include:
- Step-and-fall: When you step into a hole or other unexpected condition in a walking platform or surface, causing you to fall. This often occurs on sidewalks and parking lots. Think potholes.
- Trip-and-fall: You suddenly trip due to an unexpected or obstructed/camouflaged/hidden object obstructing your walking path. This type of accident often happens if you walk on an uneven walkway and trip on a raised portion. It could also happen if there is a dangerous condition caused by insufficient lighting.
- Slip-and-fall: Due to some hazard on a surface or floor, there is a sudden decrease in the friction between your feet/shoes and the walking surface. A typical example of this is the existence of liquid or grease on a supermarket or restaurant floor.
Property owners and managers have a legal obligation to maintain their property and keep it free of potential hazards. They also must adequately warn any visitors of existing dangers. When their failure to do so results in an injury, a lawyer’s slip and fall guidance and advice can help you recover damages.
Schedule a Free Consultation
If you or family members suffer injury due to a slip and fall accident, you may have the right to receive fair compensation for damages incurred. A free attorney consultation can help you determine whether you have a case and what the next steps need to be.